A recent Pew Research Center survey showed that 62 percent of Americans hold at least one New Age belief, whether that be in the power of crystals or astrology or reincarnation. What’s more surprising is that about half of those whom the Pew survey categorized as “Sunday Stalwarts” (most of whom go to church weekly and describe their faith as the single most important source of meaning in their life) also hold at least one New Age belief. The Pew survey questions were straightforward, asking whether the subject believes in psychics, astrology, and so on, with definitions for each.
For self-described evangelicals, 19 percent said they believe in reincarnation, and 33 percent said they believe in psychics. About 30 percent of Sunday Stalwarts responded to the Pew survey saying they believe spiritual energy is focused in physical objects like crystals and mountains. That number was much higher among Catholics (47 percent) than evangelicals (24 percent).
Stepping into mediums’ offices and crystal healing centers and talking to those who burn sage or use tarot cards reveals vastly different approaches and levels of commitment to these practices. Some burn sage to have a relaxing smell in their home. Others dig more deeply into the troubling spiritual side of New Age, seeking out crystals for “spiritual energy” or trying to channel the spirit of a dead friend through a medium.
Dónal O’Mathúna, a bioethics professor at the Ohio State University College of Nursing, finds anecdotally that most Christians who engage in New Age practices like crystal healing often get into it by a friend’s word of mouth, without doing extensive research on either the scientific benefit or the theological roots of the practice.
“The first thing is that you have to go beyond the anecdotal report, that my cousin tried this or my sister tried this and they felt better,” said O’Mathúna.
O’Mathúna and Dr. Walt Larimore, both members of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, wrote Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook, a book that looks at some of these practices. They aren’t universally dismissive of everything New Age–related. Having a beautiful rock or the scent of burning sage that helps you relax is not a problem, O’Mathúna said.
“Paul’s teaching on meat sacrificed to idols is the closest I think we can get to guidance on this,” said O’Mathúna. “There’s nothing in the meat itself that is bad, but if you understand the spiritual aspects behind it, at times it can be good to stay away from it. When someone understands the roots of it, they may not want to be involved in those practices even if someone else may say there’s no problem with it.”
So, for example, he cautions against the Japanese energy healing called reiki, which he says is in its essence a practice to connect to the spirit world: “We’re given clear teaching in the Bible that there are spiritual beings out there, and they’re not all good.” He also recommends going to health practitioners in one’s church to talk about evidence-based practices. He finds there is a slice of Christians that is often suspicious of mainstream medical studies.
Studies have debunked crystals’ healing power, except to show a placebo effect. But clients come to Kadlec, the crystal healer, who have “tried a lot of other things,” she said, including “Western medicine,” without success. Kadlec personally says certain crystals help her with muscle or back pain.
Kadlec carries a pouch of stones everywhere with her and, depending on the day, carries one or two larger stones. Every morning she does a crystal meditation, to “reflect on the energy properties.”
Comments
Narissara
Posted: Fri, 03/15/2019 12:33 pmThe use of essential oils and natural remedies seems to me to be putting to use knowledge Adam and his descendants possessed from the beginning of time. Western medicine has failed too many people to ignore it. In that sense, I could agree with the statement “the creation glorifies the Creator.” I don’t know if I can say the same about crystal healing, except to the extent they may contain minerals that are essential to good health and can be absorbed. But like anything, man has a way of taking knowledge God meant for good and distorting it.
There’s a big difference between christianizing something and syncretizing it. Syncretism tries to sanction pagan practices by comparing them to practices found in the Bible, or applying the tenets of Christianity, by extension, when they are so far removed from the Truth there isn’t any other way to rationalize them. Drawing a connection between the twelve gems on the high priest’s breastplate and crystal healing is a perfect example. Whatever you believe about the effectiveness of crystal healing, it’s reading too much into the Scripture to say there was any creation power in the gems.
Syncretsim is how the antichrist is going to draw people away — by making them believe they’re exercising their liberty in Christ when in reality they’d be thumbing their nose at Him.
Midwest preacher
Posted: Sun, 03/17/2019 06:56 amI'm not an expert but I have watched people for many years. I notice a trend where we say, "Well, it works for me". With regard to pain there may be something to that but we should also remember that some things that "work for us" may be contrary to what the Bible teaches. The level at which we care what the Bible says may tell us a lot. Do we dig and study to find what God has to say about a subject or so we use Google or Facebook as our primary source? Idolatry is not just something from long ago. Be "fruit-inspectors" of those with a product or a belief to sell.
Laneygirl
Posted: Mon, 03/25/2019 12:01 pmIt's not only New Age practice that infiltrates, twists, and dilutes Biblical, Christian faith. Consider how many church people use the term "Mother Nature". If God is the Creator of heaven and earth, then who is she and what did she do? Why do we give "her" command over nature?
Steve Shive
Posted: Tue, 03/19/2019 06:06 amThank you Emily for this timely article. You have covered some important topics and presented helpful information. One item does come to mind though. That is your limited definition of New Age. Having come of age, during the early New Age movement, I remember when Yoga and TM, and all sorts of Eastern mystical practices and meditation were seen as cutting edge. There was great resistance to these by many in the Church, just as there is with these purported healing modalities you list. At the same time there were those who professed Christianity while at the same time lauding the benefits of TM, Yoga and various forms of Eastern Mysticism.
Today these are pretty much accepted everywhere and if someone raises questions about Yoga, or acupuncture or meditation, they are seen as backward or naive. And all of the time the mantra is, “It works for me.” I believe there is great spiritual danger in these practices and much more caution and concern should be raised about all of them. I believe they can be, and are, a gateway for the enemy of our souls to gain a foothold in our lives. Your analogy to 1 Corinthians is on target. We need to exercise great caution in this area.
It doesn't take long to see in scripture that what separates Christian faith from other religions is a God who answers prayer. And this is a God who is above all other gods. This is a god who is holy and is often described as a jealous God, even to having the name Jealous (Ex 34)! As we look all over for answers, help, healing, do we really look to God for his guidance and even health/healing? As a reaction to our obsession with science and rationalism we embrace the New Age movement in its obvious and subtle forms. How seriously do we call out to our Holy Jealous God who loves us with an everlasting love? Hiebert's, “The Flaw of the Excluded Middle”, pp 407-414 of Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" is a worthwhile read.
fiddlexela
Posted: Tue, 03/19/2019 11:26 amThank you for an interesting and thoughtful article. I'd disagree, however, with lumping all Eastern healing practices into the same "New Age" category. There is a wide gulf between acupuncture and modalities that put the natural world to work, and spirit world contacting. As my Christ following ND/MD likes to say, a loving God wouldn't have waited until the 20th century to give us the means to be physically healed. It's entirely plausible that Adam and Eve left the Garden with deep knowledge about plant based healing, and other means the Lord gave our bodies to heal (acupressure related techniques), that remained in some Eastern cultures, though it became lost in the Western world along the way. While it can be disconcerting to us Americans that we can't *yet* explain it scientifically, our lack of understanding doesn't render these techniques "magical" or even dangerous, as long as we remember and acknowledge that our gracious God created them. They go far beyond placebo effect, offering healing even in skeptics like me, and small children who have no idea what is going on. ( My son was healed, completely healed, of life threatening food allergies at the age of 3--I didn't believe in acupuncture, and he had no clue what we were doing...now he's a healthy 15 year old that can eat whatever he wants, and he is following hard after the Lord who lead us to his healing. Thank you Jesus!)
Xion
Posted: Fri, 03/22/2019 01:42 amThe words Abara Cadabra are Aramaic meaning "I create as I speak". It comes from the first chapter of Genesis where God created (barah) as (ca) he spoke (davrah). Magic is pretending to have divine power. It is a counterfeit that inspires religious awe. Counterfeit Christianitity will feel right at home with this New Age nonsense, which feels spiritual but denies the power thereof. (2 Tim 3:5)
SamIamHis
Posted: Mon, 03/25/2019 09:27 pmHaving come out of the hippie era where I was influenced by and practiced many new age arts, I am not confused on where I need to draw lines. My own experiences which took me to dark spiritual places, along with what I have learned in the 40 years since, have given me a sense of caution that gudes me through the maze of alternatives available today.
I have many friends, Christian and otherwise, who are involved in new age practices from yoga to oils and many things between. When they offer alternative medicinal advice or products that have a spiritual origin in conflict with my faith in Christ, I listen and decline respectfully. If I am unfamiliar with what is being touted, I will admit that and my need to research the claim or modality before I would consider it. I do the research fully, not accepting annecdotal evidence but seeking serious trials and data that is backed up with unbiased evidence and has more than one resource producing that evidence.
Many Christians are blindly following methods of relaxation and healing without knowing the origins of the practice they are following. Often they are including forms of worship (does bowing and repeating Namaste ring a bell?) as part of that practice without even knowing what spirits they are worshipping.
Along with the excellent book mentioned above, I would recommend The Biblical Guide to Alternative Medicine by Dr. Neil T. Anderson and Dr. Michael Jacobson. It reviews many forms of alternative medicine through a 5 point grid: History, Faith, Wholistic, Science and Spiritual Discernment. It is fairly objective in that it doesn't discredit all alternatives or fail to put allopathy through the same grid and does give a factual history of what is now known as western medicine. It should be noted that both books were copyrighted in the early 2000's and there are more new age and alternative practices that have come to light since that time, though perhaps not new, but newly labeled. Same story, different disguise. The grid system described in the Anderson - Jacobson book can be applied if you are inclined to study what is offered. If people were perishing for lack of knowledge in the Old Testament days, we are not above the same mandate. Be sure you know what it is you are engaging if you venture into alternatives.
Streetwise
Posted: Wed, 03/27/2019 11:50 amAs an evangelical and part of the 33% that believes in psychics, it's shocking to me to know that 67% of evangelicals do not. Paul warns us "against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms". Psychics are very real and the occult is nothing to be trivialized or dabbled with.