Energy Healing (ritual, mystic, tradition, evolution, experience)

[Draka]

Gravitational and electromagnetic fields were mentioned as the only energy fields. Everything is an energy field. It breaks down to atoms even. The electrons that are in constant movement in every substance on Earth. Therefore...everything has an energy to it to be manipulated, sped up, slowed down, and altered. Once that understanding is there then comes the understanding of how to manipulate it. If one understands that everything is made up of the same type of energy then everything is connected and one has the ability to change things with that knowledge.

[Feathers in Hair]

I'm reminding myself to stay out of this debate since there's really no way I can prove what I believe, and I am realizing that (although it has mattered very much to me in the past) having other people not believe does not effect me.

[Lightkeeper]

Let's look at it this way. Now we take medications to heal our diseases. Aren't these medications an attempt to alter the energy in a cell so it can heal? Some energy healing isn't just one human transferring energy to another. What about radiation, isn't that energy? There are also methods of using sound to change the oxygen levels in the blood, and that is an accepted medical practice. I think we are not very far along in medical advances and as we will be using more energy practices to heal. We should be able to have medications or healing methods that don't have a long list of side effects. Something has held us back and I think it's people who hold onto practices that obviously aren't working.

[Mr Spinkles]

Dang....I was almost finished writing my post, then I lost it. Oh well...

Very well said there Melody! I'm not sure I would have the patience you are showing to answer someone who is obviously determined to make fun of what others believe in - thats a point, if we have laws against intollerance towards others for creed, colour etc... maybe 'faith healers' could be allocated a small slot in the same rule? lol

I see. Apparently, michel feels that asking legitimate questions which challenge the merit of something constitutes making fun of others, and that expressing an opinion that faith healing is anything other than a wonderful alternative to "Western" medicine constitutes intolerance. Please remember, michel, that this is a debate forum.

Originally Posted by michel

Oh, come on; as you yourself said, this is a debate forum. Do you really have to stoop to using such ridiculous examples ?

I'm not sure what you're asking. What's ridiculous about my example? Perhaps you could help me out here by providing an example of faith/energy healing that you do not feel is ridiculous.

Originally Posted by Draka

Gravitational and electromagnetic fields were mentioned as the only energy fields.

I said they were the only ones of which I am aware.

Originally Posted by Draka

Everything is an energy field.

According to physics textbooks, or New Age spiritualism?

Originally Posted by Draka

The electrons that are in constant movement in every substance on Earth.

You mean thermal energy?

Originally Posted by Draka

Therefore...everything has an energy to it to be manipulated, sped up, slowed down, and altered. Once that understanding is there then comes the understanding of how to manipulate it. If one understands that everything is made up of the same type of energy then everything is connected and one has the ability to change things with that knowledge.

These statements are very broad....the question is, can one "change things" in the manner and with the consequences claimed by faith/energy healers?

Actually, I'm not sure I understand what it is, exactly, that New Age healers claim to be able to do. So for example....
- Can healers alleviate pain just by thinking about the patient?
- Can healers alleviate pain just by touching a patient?
- Can healers cure disease just by touching a patient?
etc.

I need to know more about the actual procedure and the claimed results of New Age healing. Can anyone help me out here? What would a typical energy healer do to a typical patient? What kinds of ailments would this help to cure, and what would be the expected results?

[Mr Spinkles]

Originally Posted by Feathers

I'm reminding myself to stay out of this debate since there's really no way I can prove what I believe, and I am realizing that (although it has mattered very much to me in the past) having other people not believe does not effect me.

Honestly Feathers, I'm not trying to have an "effect" on you. I think you're a great person, and I hope you never change.

I do, however, feel strongly that if it cannot be proven that touching others with one's hands can kill cancer cells, that is a good indicator that touching others with one's hands cannot kill cancer cells. I am also dismayed at how New Age healers couch what is ancient superstition in scientific terms, as though its claims were backed by legitimate scientific research and peer-reviewed journals, and present themselves as an alternative to "Western" medicine, when (in my opinion) most are simply an alternative to legitimate medicine. If the methods of New Age healers are valid, and if the testimonies of those who have experienced a positive change in their condition is representative of a larger phenomenon (rather than coincidence and selection bias), then medical trials with control groups should pass with flying colors....but they don't.

[Feathers in Hair]

Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles

Honestly Feathers, I'm not trying to have an "effect" on you. I think you're a great person, and I hope you never change.

(This may be off-topic, but I'm framing this and sticking it to my wall! *hugs* Thank you for the clarification, too!)

[Dr. Nosophoros]

The mind is stronger than the flesh, whatever you call it or how you do it makes no difference, the end result is if it works for you, do it/use it- My opinion anyway.

[cardero]

Mr. Spinkles writes: Actually, I'm not sure I understand what it is, exactly, that New Age healers claim to be able to do.

First of all I am not sure that this alternative to healing could be considered New Age. The real New Age of healing seems to be current medicines which in my opinion provide side effects that are just as undesirable as the symptoms.

Mr. Spinkles writes: So for example....
- Can healers alleviate pain just by thinking about the patient?

The methods of energy healing depend on both patient and healer. There have been many documented accounts of a healer alleviating medical symptoms from afar. The best known practitioner of this was a man named Edgar Cayce who would reach a trancelike state, diagnose a patient and give them the exact proper procedure to alleviate their illness. Edgar Cayce was not a doctor yet his achievements are many and have been documented thoroughly.

Mr. Spinkles writes:Can healers alleviate pain just by touching a patient?

I used to attend massage classes and chiropractor sessions and have witnessed the results of pain relief first hand with the hands-on approach. Also Barbera Ann Brennan in her book HANDS OF LIGHT: A Guide to Healing Though the Energy Field offers a hands-on/hands-off approach to energy healing.

Mr. Spinkles writes: Can healers cure disease just by touching a patient?

There are some diseases that cannot be cured by an energy healer or a doctor. Whether this is a life challenge chosen by the patient or the shortcoming of the healer I cannot say. I also wanted to point out that energy healing is not a substitute for proper medical care. We still need the knowledgable skills of medical practitioners. Maybe some day the two fields can work together.

Mr. Spinkles writes: I need to know more about the actual procedure and the claimed results of New Age healing. Can anyone help me out here? What would a typical energy healer do to a typical patient? What kinds of ailments would this help to cure, and what would be the expected results?

The only thing I can recommend if you are interested in this subject is to start reading and researching. There are many books on the subject including the one I listed above.