New Age

Historical Aspects
New Age has its modern roots in the Theosophical Society, which was founded in New York in 1875 by Helene Petrovna Blavatsky, a native of Russia. The central teaching of this organisation was and is that all world religions share a truth that transcends potential differences. The members of this organisation believe in the existence of "masters" who are either spiritual beings, or fortunate human beings who are "more highly" developed than the "great masses" - in other words, particularly enlightened persons.

One of the main figures to emerge from the Theosophical Society was Alice A. Bailey (1880-1949), an Englishwoman who emigrated to the USA. She laid the actual foundations of New Age and is considered its high priestess. As a psychic medium, she received messages from a so-called Master of Wisdom, the Tibetan Djwal Khul. These messages, which she wrote down according to the dictates of this being, were published in numerous books. Her secret teachings, which are followed meticulously by New Age circles to this day, are described in the "Plan".
According to the secret instructions, this movement was not to become publicly known until 1975. Then, however, it was to come into the light of the public and fully reveal the fact and essence of the "Plan for the New World Order". Since then, all appropriate media have been used to spread the New Age doctrine worldwide; this was accompanied by the expectation that there would be a New Age Christ. And this then also happened.

In fact, I have recently been encouraged in my intention to write this article by several publications that have appeared in the secular press and consistently represent New Age thought in one form or another. One frequently comes across names such as Marilyn Ferguson, the author of "The Aquarian Conspiracy", and Fritjof Capra, the author of "The Turning Point".
New Age programmes have found their way into the business world and all walks of life, as well as into Christian communities. One tactic followed from the beginning was to gain many sympathisers through a new ecological consciousness. The direction in which this consciousness should go is often influenced by New Age philosophy. For example, Devall and Session, in their book " Deep Ecology", conclude that all organisms and things in the ecosphere are part of an interrelated whole and of equal value. All things in the biosphere have the right to self-realisation. The holistic philosophy of New Age is clearly behind this. This leads to the conclusion that man has his happiness in his own hands, provided he bears in mind that all things are interrelated. He has to integrate himself into this ecosystem, which will guarantee his happiness. Life then no longer consists of a mere satisfaction of the material needs of the body, but requires a physical and mental development to harmonise only with the ecosystem. Self-realisation is the goal and result of this evolution. To achieve this, many methods are offered.

Many seemingly harmless course programmes are available. Healthy eating and fitness, relaxation therapies, especially positive thinking, are often used. All these programmes involve some form of meditation - Yoga, hypnosis, spiritual healing, visualisation, positive thinking. These are all methods in which there is some truth. However, to the extent that they are incompatible with the Christian understanding (e.g. of man's dependence on the Creator God), these methods can open a channel for occult powers in a person and thus cause harm. Especially meditation without the Word of God can become harmful. But to further complicate the understanding of New Age philosophy, Bible verses are often thrown in. Positive thinking in particular often uses passages from the Bible and is therefore presented as faith, despite the non-Christian premise that every person's "primary power" is good (cf. Romans 3:10: "“None is righteous, no, not one;").

With its wide range of offers, New Age draws from many sources. Especially in the field of education and counselling, one encounters methods that have their roots in the anthroposophy of Rudolf Steiner. New Age is very successful in first popularising one area of interest after another and then exploiting it for its own benefit, in order to systematically infiltrate our society. Even children and teenagers are being influenced by New Age ideas through a flood of fantasy games, videos, films, audio cassettes, comics, writings, board games and toys. Films such as "Star Wars" have contributed a lot to the spread of the idea that "masters" guide the destiny of humanity. Many such games have seduced young people into conjuring spirits, trying their hand at clairvoyance, telepathy and telekinesis, moving objects by the power of thought (the Ouija board is one of the most popular games at present). Of course, music is also abused, and highly unpleasant and scary sounds are already generally accepted as being "beautiful". (I would leave out the example here, as it is very well known to many).

Equally striking is the connection of New Age to celebrities who, although not always directly linked to the NA movement, are themselves seeking people who have recognised the necessity of a new beginning for humanity. Sometimes they themselves are members of organisations that are not grounded in Christianity. (E.g.: Pop singer Madonna is among those who believe teachings of a group called "Kabala"; actor Henry Winkler alias "The Fonz" in the well-known film 'Happy Days' belongs to the Scientologists. Actor Tom Cruise is also said to belong to this group).
In this way, New Age ideas about a new humanity that is to be realised without the grace of God, through human effort alone, are successfully spread.

New-Age-Philosophy
The New Age movement strives for a new and perfect world. But to achieve this goal, a "paradigm shift" (a change in conventional thinking) in terms of New Age philosophy must take place. The conventional analytical way of thinking, which corresponds to the linear and mechanistic world view, is replaced by a new, holistic perspective, the belief in the inner interconnectedness of all things. Each individual feels himself or herself to be part of nature and the whole cosmos, as well as a microcosm in the macrocosm. Rational thinking has to give way to synthetic thinking and intuitive knowledge.

New Age philosophy aims at the reconciliation of opposites. Knowledge and occultism are placed on an equal footing. All ethical values collapse: Good and evil no longer exist, everything is one. This explains the tendency towards the synthesis of all religions.
For New Age, man's highest goal is to find happiness. The fear of impending apocalyptic events (fear of death) leads to a flight into a utopian "world society in which there are no more tensions."
The plan, allegedly communicated to Alice Bailey by means of mediumistic dictation, is to establish a new world order, a new world government and a new world religion. The main political goal of New Age is global control. The dissolution of individual states is publicly advocated in the interest of peace. Although world rule is the ultimate goal, there are numerous intermediate goals of a political, social and economic nature of the following content: a universal credit card system, a world food authority, a world tax, recognition of worldwide biological population and disease controls, etc.
While the goals of the New Age may take many forms, from a Christian perspective there seems to be only one goal: Lucifer's inspiration that man is equal to God, that man is God, that there is no sin but only stages of development of human consciousness. Man can achieve his own happiness when he becomes part of the totality of creation. Before that, man must have completed his self-realisation.
To this end, the New Age movement promotes a sceptical and destructive approach to religions that believe in personal immortality.

Resurrection is replaced by reincarnation. The belief that man lives on and his consciousness is absorbed in the Universal Consciousness leads man away from his responsibility to God during his life; leads him away from sin (cf. Rom 5:12) and justification through Jesus' death on the cross. Forgiveness of sins through contrite repentance towards him has no room in such a philosophy. In fact, New Age constitutes a religion.
The concept of this religion is as old as humanity. Many world religions outside the God-given Judeo-Christian revelation have similar or even the same views by which New Age differs significantly from our Christian faith:

1. An impersonal God (power) - not the personal Creator God who is not identical with creation ( cf. Gen 1:1).

2. An eternal universe - not a creation that will have an end (cf. 2 Pet 3:10-13; Mt 5:18)

3. A pseudo-nature of things -contrary to biblical teaching: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.(Gen 1:1) ... God saw that it was good (Gen 1:12) ... Let us make man ... Let them have dominion over the fish, over the birds and over all the animals ..." (Gen 1:26). And again, "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." (Gen 1:31).

4. A cyclical nature of life - not a linear - historical development.

5. The necessity of reincarnation - unlike what Heb. 9:27 says, "And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment."

6. Man's evolution to divinity - instead of the eternal life obtained for us through Jesus' death and resurrection.

7. Continued revelations by beings from the afterlife - instead of the revelation of God in His Son Jesus, which, once made, is forever.

8. The need for meditation as a means of changing consciousness - instead of contrite repentance of the heart (metanoia) which brings us eternal life.

9. Occult practices (disregarding the divine instruction in Dt 18:10 ff) as a means of acquiring self-realisation - instead of faith in Jesus Christ as the only means of attaining full humanity.

As apart from Christian thought, other philosophical and religious ideas are widespread in the former Christian West, we must expect that New Age ideas will spill over to all parts of society. This is all the more true for countries with a predominantly non-Christian culture, personalities and International Organisations such as the UN, UNESCO, the World Council of Churches, the Club of Rome, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, etc.. These organisations knowingly or unknowingly contribute to the spreading of New Age ideas.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is gaining increased public attention. More and more doctors, dentists and psychologists are using hypnosis as an additional technique within their specialty.
There are many theories about why and how hypnosis works. Most experts agree that hypnosis functions on the basis of the innate influenceability of the individual. There are some people who seem to be more easily influenced than others. At a certain point, influence becomes hypnosis. Where, when and how, is something no one knows yet.

The term hypnosis is derived from the Greek word hypnos, the God of sleep. It means that as long as a person is hypnotised, he or she is in a state not unlike sleep. Some consider this state not to be sleep, but a state of heightened consciousness, a kind of super-consciousness. In this state, the hypnotist has almost total control over the will of the hypnotised person. Anyone who has seen a hypnotist on stage will have noticed that certain people immediately comply with the hypnotist's instructions: They move body parts, fall to the floor, behave like animals, etc. But we are not actually talking about stage hypnosis here.

It seems that hypnosis, which for years had been on the verge of respectability, is crossing the threshold of full recognition. Hypnosis, praised as hypnotherapy or alternative medicine, is highly popular and a seemingly harmless remedy for minor ailments of all kinds. Hypnosis offers itself to us as a help with addictive behaviours (smoking, nail biting) and all sorts of anxieties and even for weight loss.

The British Medical Association sees hypnotism as a temporary state of the hypnotised person - the "subject" - which can be induced by another person or by self-hypnosis. It is thought of as a state of "modified attention", which means that the subject's attention is diverted from ordinary objects and directed towards ideas that are introduced to the person by the hypnotist. The state of being hypnotised can also be called a hypnotic trance. In connection with this trance, many unusual behavioural changes occur.

Hypnotism is usually evoked by repetition of certain words, or by the subject himself by concentrating on a single object that catches the eye, e.g. a swinging pendulum or a clock. The hypnotist goes into repetition in a low voice until the subject falls into a deep trance. If the hypnotist has done his job well, the subject will become happy and relaxed, wanting to be of one mind with the hypnotist and even do everything the hypnotist suggests. At the same time, the subject pays less and less attention to what else is going on in the room. The trance deepens as orders are suggested to the subject, which become more and more difficult to carry out. Eventually, the subject will respond without resistance to any suggestion coming from the hypnotist. The trance usually ends when the hypnotist commands the subject to return to the normal state.

How does hypnosis affect behaviour?
The subject's actions are influenced or even completely controlled. Whatever is suggested to the subject, he or she will respond to it, even subconsciously.

This is sometimes used in dental treatments. The patient can be conditioned by hypnosis to feel no pain at all. In psychiatry, the patient's forgotten experiences can be brought back to consciousness, the subject can be made to feel as if he is reliving the past, along with the emotions and physical signals that accompanied the past experiences. Mood changes and emotional changes may occur and persist after awakening. A hypnotised smoker, because of his or her highly suggestible state, can easily accept the hypnotist's suggestion that he or she stop smoking, and this can help them break the habit.

What is really happening?
When the hypnotist puts his subject into trance, he is trying to thereby gain access to areas of the human personality that are normally inaccessible. In doing so, hypnotists acknowledge the fact that the psyche has some kind of door that blocks access to undesirable influences. Knowing that many things come in and go out, the psyche filters them all, deciding what is helpful and what is not. What is not useful at the moment is either stored or eliminated altogether. In this way, the person is protected from many undesirable influences. Now, when the hypnotist puts a person into trance, he suspends the "door mechanism" of the psyche and thus bypasses the normal ability of the psyche to determine the occurrence or non-occurrence of influences.

Significantly, the hypnotist rarely commands his subject to do anything. Why? Hypnotists have learned from experience that subjects are unlikely to accept commands. But they do respond easily to suggestions. This underlines the fact that the hypnotist has "smuggled" himself into the personality and now acts there as if he were really a part of it. From this we can conclude that the psyche subjected to hypnosis is a psyche that has been invaded by eliminating the defence mechanism. In other words, the will of the hypnotised person is impaired to a certain degree or is suspended for a certain duration.

Now, to what extent is the will impaired during hypnosis?
Some will say that our actions are the result of the influence that others exert on our lives. This implies that hypnotism is an entirely natural state.
Admittedly, the borderline between following suggestions and carrying out the orders of a hypnotist is not clearly defined. But as we have already pointed out, human beings have a built-in system for warding off unwanted influences on the soul. We called it the "door mechanism". The hypnotist aims to suspend this defence system. For this, the hypnotist must first gain the trust of the subject/patient. Since there is no consensus as to whether or not a hypnotist can make a person do something against their will, it is crucial for the hypnotist to maintain the idea in the patient that the control of will lies with him or her, the subject/patient. The patient finds it easier to trust the hypnotist if he can be sure that his will will not be interfered with in the state of hypnosis....
The hypnotic state begins with a system of verbal and non-verbal manipulations intended to bring the person into a state of heightened suggestibility - a state of believing almost anything.

This process involves a kind of division of consciousness in which the individual can still make a decision in certain areas (executive control), while other areas are at the mercy of the hypnotist. In this way, during hypnosis, the patient may feel that he or she has retained control because he or she can make many decisions.

In an experimental hypnosis, for example, where the subject was free to move as he or she wished, the hallucinations were still consistent with the hypnotist's suggestions. This indicates that there is a sharing of control. While the hypnotised person retains control over many areas, other areas have been surrendered to the hypnotist. For example, if the subject is told he or she cannot move the foot, they will not be able to move it. It is seen that the perception of the world of external reality disintegrates and that at a certain point the voice of the hypnotist is heard within the psyche of the subject, which now acts upon the expression of the hypnotist's will as if it were its own will. The hypnotist achieves this when the subject surrenders to him an area of will known as the 'control function'. This function is vital to the making of responsible will choices. It works by recalling situations from the past and comparing them with the present situation. Such recall provides us with information that influences and controls our decisions, decisions about how to act in the situation at hand. For example, if I run around in circles with my arms flapping like wings, making sounds like a chick, I will give the image of a madman; therefore I refrain from doing so. When this agency controlling our actions is damaged, individuals may very well perform actions they would not normally even consider.

The hypnotist's influence temporarily removes the controlling function, which is why reality is distorted for the subject and the evaluation of actions, that is which of them are useful and which are not, cannot be carried out properly; this means that during the hypnotic trance state, an individual moves his arms flapping his wings when it is suggested to him by the hypnotist that he has wings.

Now, if an individual is prevented from making judgements based on reality, his ability to make a responsible decision is seriously impaired. This can lead to the individual surrendering some of these areas to the hypnotist. If someone does not fully retain the normal ability to evaluate and choose, then quite obviously his will may be disturbed and at least partially violated.

The "Modern Synopsis of Comprehensive Textbook Psychiatry" states: "Hypnosis may be described as a modified state of intense and sensitive interpersonal connection between hypnotist and patient, characterized by the patient's non-rational submission and relative surrender of control over one's actions, to a more or less regressed, dissociated state."
In summary, a hypnotised person is incapable of responsible willful decision-making.

Hypnotherapy - Does hypnosis have therapeutic value?
Although obviously the impairment of choice and reality verification is temporary, hypnotherapy is based on the assumption that the suggestions received under hypnosis continue to have a determining influence on the patient.
For example, a person appears to be cured of nail biting or smoking because of the negative suggestions that were put in against these habits during hypnosis. Experience has shown that "cures" of this kind do not last long. At least there is no sufficient scientific proof of the longevity of such cures.
It seems to be the case that the posthypnotic influence on the patient - similar to the impairment of freedom of choice and reality verification - is limited in time. Moreover, it has not yet been sufficiently investigated - in the event that the healing is permanent - whether and to what extent the dissociation of control over one's own actions is also maintained.
To quote a former hypnotist: "Once you have been hypnotised, your psyche will never be yours again" ("Hypnosis in Court" KNX, Los Angeles, New Radio Editorial 7.4.82).
This raises the question of possible negative side effects.

Although the hypnotherapist assures the patient that the free will is not violated under hypnosis, there is little proof of this. As a person under hypnosis usually does something, provided it is presented as plausible and desirable, and as reality is perceived in a distorted way under hypnosis, a violation may occur as a result of the fact that the patient is in a more suggestible state.
Hypnotist Simeon Edmonds, in his book "Hypnotism and Psychic Phenomena", says, "It is thus possible for the hypnotist not only to perform an illegal act on the subject, but also to cause the hypnotised person to perform an illegal act".

What a Christian should bear in mind
Even if we only consider what has been said so far, we realise that at least a partial violation of the will takes place under hypnosis. Hypnosis deliberately interferes with fully conscious choice. The violation of the will is cunningly achieved by clouding the patient's view of reality and thus leading him to act in a way he would not have resorted to had he not been in a hypnotic trance. The human will is a divine characteristic that makes the creature the image of God. God has implanted in us the ability to choose, he has given us a free will. With this, he has given us the ability to say "no" thanks to our reason, so that in our actions we do not have to blindly follow every possible suggestion on the part of unscrupulous persons or even on the part of our own inner motivation, driven by not at all desirable ideas.
While in the normal state we may be influenced or even fascinated by suggestions, we still have this great scope of action to distance ourselves from our wrong or sinful actions. We can choose between doing right and wrong.
This is not guaranteed under hypnosis, not even when we come out of the state of hypnotism. Hypnosis, like brainwashing, should not be acceptable to a Christian. The similarities that hypnosis has with our normal state are attention and suggestion, but not hypnotism, just as persuasion is not brainwashing. Attention and suggestion may be part of hypnosis, but the whole is not equal to the parts. The argument that hypnotherapy is a means to a good end is misleading because, according to Christian understanding, the end does not justify the means.
As Christians we should be aware, especially in our times which sail under the flag of New Age, that all kinds of methods of changing consciousness have been spread among the people and have found acceptance among some strata of society; but this does not mean that they are also acceptable from a Christian point of view. No matter in what form they are offered, they all bear the danger of luring us away from God's law, His love and our final salvation.

Finally, we must point to dangers that stem from man's surrender to spiritual passivity. This is a state not unlike "empty meditation". We need to know what natural science teaches: nowhere in nature does a vacuum remain unfilled for long, but it fills up with what surrounds it. This means that a spiritually passive person is wide open to what comes at him or her from outside. And if we take note of what Jesus teaches in Lk 11:25, it is evil powers that are "entering". Once we have given up the steering wheel of our will, we become vulnerable to evil influences, be they human or occult. This is especially true when we are in a state of heightened suggestibility and distorted perception of reality.

Dennis and Rita Bennet warn against the use of hypnosis in their book "The Holy Spirit and You". They quote the case of a teenager, a girl whose behaviour changed dramatically after being exposed to "innocent" hypnosis. They say, "It is a fact that hypnosis also puts the psyche into a passive-receptive state, and therefore, even if the hypnotist does not intend it, opens the door of the soul to sickening spiritual influences which entail years of burden."

In many cases, demonic influences may not be apparent in all clarity. But the mind has grown weary in its constant effort to discern the truth. There may indeed be an opening into realms of deception.

For some Christians, hypnotherapy has the attribute of being scientific and medical, although proof of its validity or the permanence of its results is truly lacking. Since, on the one hand, there are so many unanswered questions regarding the nature of hypnosis and its medical benefits, and since, on the other hand, its use involves many dangers, Christians are well advised to keep their hands off hypnosis or hypnotherapy altogether.

History and Teachings
This movement was founded by Charles Tazé Russell, who originally belonged to an Adventist sect. This sect had announced the Second Coming of Christ for the year 1874. As it did not materialise, Russell postponed the date to 1915, then to 1916 and then again to 1918. After further fruitless waiting for the fulfilment of the prophecy, he decided to declare the Second Coming of Christ to be invisible and further claimed that it had taken place in 1914!
"The Watchtower", a newspaper founded by Russell in 1879, propagates the imminent end times of the social order. Russell's successor, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, named the movement "Jehovah's Witnesses" (1931).
Until the 1970s, the number of followers grew very strongly. But when his successor's announced end-time date of 1975 was again not correct, a large part of the membership was lost.
Rutherford's successor, Nathan Homer Knorr, streamlined the organisation by introducing strict training programmes.
The Witnesses do refer to the Bible, but their Bible edition ("New World Bible") deviates from any ecumenically accepted translation and interpretation.
Jesus is not understood as the Son of God, but as the Archangel Michael.
He is said to have established a throne in heaven from where he leads the people of God (Jehovah's Witnesses). The leadership takes place through the visible representatives (the Governing Body of the Watchtower Society). At the Battle of Armageddon, Christ will destroy all the governments of the world and establish Paradise on Earth with the surviving Jehovah's Witnesses.

Organisation and Way of Life
Food containing animal blood is not permitted. Blood transfusion, even when it is to save lives, is forbidden. Birthdays, Mother's Days and Christmas may not be celebrated as they have a pagan origin.
Membership of political parties, as well as the right to vote, is rejected, in anticipation of the end times and the "New World". 144,000 chosen ones will reign with Christ in heaven (Rev. 7:4). In case of compulsory military service, they decide to do community service instead.
Each member is obliged to spend 40 hours a week going from house to house, advertising. Two publications are distributed for this purpose: " The Watchtower" and "Awake". Members are forbidden to accept Church or political functions.
Leaving this society is difficult and often entails financial losses. The splinter groups that have formed advocate similar doctrines.

Experience Report
In the district where I lived 10 years ago, I regularly received visits from Jehovah's Witnesses. Usually three people come, one of whom is the "leader", the others are the "disciples" of the evangelisation. Unfortunately, there are always Catholics among them who are not satisfied with our Church. Many Catholics do not know the Bible particularly well and therefore do not recognise the falsifications that occur in the "Book of Truth" of Jehovah's Witnesses. They do not know either that the Witnesses do not believe in the Holy Spirit.
Since I am well informed about this group, I always invited these people to pray with me. And since they believe they are Christians, they agreed to pray together. It was the same a few years ago. As a Catholic, I begin every prayer with the sign of the cross: 'In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!' When I mentioned the Holy Spirit, my "friends" jumped up and hurriedly left my house. They neither said "thank you" nor "goodbye" and so I never saw them again.

When Catholics now ask me what they should actually do or say when Jehovah's Witnesses stand in front of their door, I advise them never to enter into a discussion, but to invite them to prayer and then to pray the sign of the cross aloud. Then they will get rid of these zealous Witnesses, mostly forever.
What happens? The Holy Spirit confronts and unveils the falsehood, the bearers of this falsehood cannot tolerate this and evade this confrontation as soon and as quickly as possible. Moreover, it gives a testimony to those who are not yet completely taken in by the false teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is a testimony for our Christian truth and hopefully for those who were baptised as Catholics.

Shamanism

In October 2005, an International Conference on Ethnotherapies took place in Munich. Several Shamans and more than ten speakers touching on the topic of " Shamanism" were present. The most diverse therapies from ecstatic dance to possible healing and preventive methods were discussed and demonstrated in workshops. Some of them were on the verge of superstition, others of spiritism. The representatives of Shamanism called for special attention. For nowadays, certain psychotherapists try to adopt Shamanic practices, which would have met with great rejection just a few years ago.

Shamans already existed in ancient times among various peoples. The Shaman is to act as a mediator between this world and the world of spirits. Through different methods he enters into trance under the rhythm of his drum. Then he leaves his body to travel to the otherworld. In some Shamanistic traditions, the great Shaman leaves behind his animal in the body as protection! Ecstasy techniques are so much connected with Shamanism that they are understood as its minimal definition.
The word "Shaman" goes back to the word šaman, which belongs to the Evenk vocabulary. The Evenks (Tungus) are a hunter people belonging to the Tungusic-Manchurian language group. They are spread over large parts of Eastern and Central Siberia. Shamanism played an essential role in the religious life of these peoples. Other peoples, such as the Eskimos, various Native American tribes, and Turkic-speaking ethnies, have other names for this phenomenon which characterises the Shaman.

The task of a Shaman was to intervene wherever the normal course of life of his tribe or an individual of his tribe appeared to be disturbed by the intervention of transcendent powers, or when it was necessary to prevent threatening disturbances. Everything concerning the soul or its destiny, be it in this world or in the hereafter, was the exclusive domain of the Shaman. He is ascribed the ability to be the only one who can travel to the other world and come back again. Thus, it was his task to safely deliver offerings to the Gods of the Upper World, as well as the Underworld. He accompanied the deceased to the afterlife, or in case of illness, fetched a soul back to the body. The ancient Shamans knew an Upper, Lower and Middle World. The Middle World is the dwelling place of the people. Since Shamanism developed in the hunter cultures, it is no surprise that the Shaman was considered the guardian not only of human souls, but also of animal souls. Thus, animals also played an important role in the Shaman's activities.

There is the animal sacrifice, in which the meat must be brought to the Gods in the afterlife, the blood of a reindeer, for example, was used by some tribes as a lure to draw the disease-causing demon out of the bowels of the sick person, then it was quickly licked up by the Shaman and spat out into a carved out icon of the idol, in which it was sealed so that it could not invade the sick person again. In some peoples, a goose is used to suck the pathogen out of the sick person's stomach with its beak. Animals are thus also practically involved in the healing process.
Each animal species is assigned a "Lord of the Animals", which means a Spirit-Animal. In the following we will talk about these Spirit-Animals.
When the Shaman is summoned (either the Shamanic power is inherited or it is a spontaneous vocation), he has to undergo a rite of transition (Initation), in which he symbolically dies and is reborn. With some peoples he thereby encounters "his" animal, which accompanies and supports him in the future; this special animal is often called "Mother Animal".
Certain animals help to find a soul in the afterlife. These are the auxiliary spirits of the Shaman. Among some peoples there is the concept of a personal "Power Animal" of each person, in the absence of which illness may occur.

The traditional activity of the Shaman is to provide answers in socio-economic situations and, if necessary, to obtain benevolence from the spirits and Gods. In his ecstasy, the Shaman transcends the boundaries of the profane world to contact transcendent powers. He would seek them either in their realms of being, the Upper World, the Underworld or the Realm of the Dead, or he would summon these powers to allow them to enter his body. The Shaman is always at the service of a social group when he interacts with the spirits and communicates his experiences to the people who surround him. He conveyed these contents according to the customs and religious beliefs of his community.
His main function is magical healing. For the autochthonous peoples, illness meant the loss of a part of the soul or even a soul; often it was believed that they possess up to seven of them. During his flights to the other world, he consults the spirits about the cause as well as the treatment of the disease. He went in search of the lost soul in the Upper or Lower World, often after spending a strict period of preparation in solitude, avoiding certain foods.
For the journey to the other world, he needed a certain equipment, which was quite different among different peoples; the most widespread and important tool was the drum for the initiation of ecstasy and as a "vehicle" for the journey. Among different ethnic tribes there were different views on whether the Shaman himself is transformed into "his" animal or whether his animal only acts as an auxiliary spirit or guardian animal. Also, the understanding of his equipment and drum was often more than symbolism; thus, a change in identity occurred with the putting on of the robe. Among some peoples, a "high" Shaman left an animal in his body as a guardian before he began his afterlife journey. Thus, in ancient travel descriptions, it is reported that a Shaman behaved like a possessed person in his ecstasy.

It is an important fact that there were high-ranking and low-ranking Shamans. Only higher ones could travel to the otherworld and come back. Lower Shamans, often also women, were used for divination and finding animals and objects.
Some Shamans had their own spirit guide. In this, they resemble the Western "faith healer," who very often has a special spirit as his guide.

In the case of modern Western Shamans one can read about encounters with animals as a symbol of the healing path, but nothing about surrendering the body to an animal. In the case of modern Shamanistic psychotherapists, it seems that they are in trance searching for a part of the patient's soul. For example, a person experiences a trauma at the age of three and therefore cannot cope with life at his present age; as a result, the searching psychotherapist sets out to find the piece of the lost childhood soul (soul catcher). When he brings it back and it is accepted by the patient, healing takes place. So far, I have not found any evidence that this kind of healing lasts and what are the possible spiritual consequences of such a therapy.
The fact that the treated person feels better may be a purely psychological consequence (placebo effect). Now that he has pinned his faith on this method, he will, for a time, see his negative circumstances through these "rose-coloured glasses" and believe that he has got rid of his problem. This "relief syndrome" is a well-known psychological fact that usually does not last more than 18 to 24 months; after that, the original mental disorder returns.

Hints for the Christian

For a Christian it should be noted that this is spiritism, which is not permitted to a Christian.
Here, the gates to occult powers are opened. Occult means "invisible," indicating that we are dealing with invisible forces or powers. In other words, it is the world of the spirits. New Age speaks of "energies." In this regard, Christian theology says that there is no neutral level in the spiritual world. Spiritual beings belong to the side of God or to the side of his adversary. This separation can only be understood in the sign of the Cross of Christ.
Spiritism as well as New Age speak of good and evil spiritual beings, but they do not know the decisive factor of distinction among those beings: the Cross of Jesus Christ. It separated and still separates the good spiritual beings from the evil ones. Therefore, deliverance from evil spiritual beings can only take place in the name of Jesus Christ.

From the Christian point of view, man cannot lose any part of his soul. After a trauma, it often happens that certain emotional experiences are shifted into the subconscious mind. In Inner Healing through prayer, the Holy Spirit can bring back into consciousness the experiences that are important for healing. One must then help this person - again through prayer - to forgive and ask for forgiveness and, if it is a Catholic, to make use of the Sacrament of Confession. This could be called "bringing back a part of the soul." But it can only be obtained from God through Jesus, man himself is not able to heal the root of the spiritual evil.

Applied Kinesiology

The American physician and physiotherapist George Goodheart invented this form of diagnosis and treatment. He is said to have recognised the connection between diseases of the organs and the strength of the muscles in the 1960s.
Muscle weakness is said to be observed in the reflex zones associated with the sick organs. AK first spread in the USA. Various schools developed which applied variations of the muscle testing procedure, e.g. "Touch for Health" (healing through touch), " Edu-Kinestetics" (movement pedagogy) and "Brain-Gym" (learning gymnastics). AK developed increasingly newer methods and associated fancy names such as "Energy Training", "Energy Life Circle" or "Movements Dynamics", etc.

In the meantime, some of these methods have also spread in Germany and Austria. All these methods are based on the so-called muscle test. Some physicians and dentists, but mainly physiotherapists and several hundred alternative practitioners use this diagnostic method. Further forms of AK have developed. Above all, psychotherapeutic programmes should be mentioned: Behavioural Kinesiology, Psychological Kinesiology, as well as programmes that serve economic counselling.

The underlying idea is based on concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The energy flow is the main factor. If it is blocked by stress or unhealthy habits such as smoking or excessive alcohol intake, this supposedly manifests itself in muscle weakness. The idea of cosmic energy circulating in the body, which can be influenced at certain points, is the same as that referred to in acupuncture.
If the energy flows unhindered, the examined organ is healthy and the corresponding muscle is supposedly strongly activated. The diagnostic system of AK is based on the given muscle resistance. With this diagnostic method, Edu-Kinestetics as well as Brain-Gym claim to be able to measure the cooperation of the two hemispheres of the brain and to influence it through movement exercises. Psychotherapeutic programmes are also based on traditional Chinese philosophical and medical ideas. They want to recognise the unconscious control mechanisms of the emotions by means of the AK test and influence them through meditation and nutritional supplements.

Diagnosis

The patient has to resist the pressure of the practitioner's hand either with the arm raised or the leg bent. At the same time, the practitioner places his other hand on the part of the body to be examined. If the arm or leg resists the pressure well, the organ examined is healthy. If, on the other hand, the resistance is weak, the organ under examination must be treated. Similarly, the tolerability of food, the cause of allergies and the medication to be used are examined. The substance to be examined is placed on the "sick" organ and then the AK muscle test is applied. A weak resistance means "no", a strong one "yes". Some practitioners have the patient press on a scale or use the biotensor, an instrument similar to the divining rod.

Treatment

In this technique, massage is applied to the supposedly weakened muscle. Similar to acupuncture, attention is paid to specific reaction points that are said to be located along the spine, head and chest, abdomen and thighs. The applied pressure lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. The tested medicines, mostly from homeopathic preparation or herbal remedies, are applied against the detected diseases.
"Touch for Health" assumes that through physical touch and massage, not only tensions but also emotional problems are relieved.
Edu-Kinestetics and similar methods continue to build on the ideas of the "Touch for Health" theory. The patient is brought into "balance" (mental/emotional equilibrium), whereby physical and emotional tensions are reduced and health is to be achieved.
AK is disseminated by an American company. The publishing house belonging to the company promotes the AK diagnostic method not only through publications but also through courses. The different forms of AK can be studied in the same institutes.

Criticism

The AK diagnosis cannot be scientifically proven because the muscle test is purely subjective. There is the danger that healthy people are declared sick and sick people are declared healthy. Furthermore, in some cases unnecessary medication may be taken or diseases may not be recognised at all and their treatment may be delayed or even prevented.
There is no scientific documentation that proves or confirms the muscle test effect, the same applies to the different forms of AK. The different movement exercises applied belong to normal gymnastics and as such have a positive influence on the patient. Above all, they help to relax, which has a positive effect on the psyche. Furthermore, the effect of AK treatment could be based on the placebo effect, which also has a positive effect on the relaxation of the patient.

AK in all its forms therefore is not medically advisable.

Foot Reflexology

Reflexology, also called zone therapy or foot reflexology, is a way of working on the body or massage and is based on the observation that acting on certain parts of the body through pressure and stroking has a therapeutic effect which causes certain other parts of the body to function normally again.
In reflexology, the body is divided into ten zones and mapped, very similar to acupuncture. It focuses on foot massage because the foot is considered a microcosm of the whole body.

Reflexology was developed in the early 1920s by William H. Fitzgerald (died in 1925). He was a physician and practiced in Hartford, Connecticut. He also worked at the London Ear, Nose and Throat Central Hospital. By pure accident, he discovered that when he applied direct pressure on certain parts of a patient's body, he could perform minor surgeries without cocaine (the then common substance used for anaesthesia). He started to research additional anaesthetic points and mark them on a map of the body.

Like acupuncture and other alternative therapies, reflexology is based on a system of body connections (meridians). Through these meridians, parts of the body which are normally inaccessible (without opening the body) are connected to areas of the body's surface in ways that are generally not recognised by conventional medicine. It is further based on the fact that these meridians can be used to influence physical well-being and functional disorders.

Fitzgerald first shared his discovery with various dentists who discovered that they could use his techniques to avoid painkilling injections during dental treatment. At that time he also made the acquaintance of the specialised author Edwin B. Bowers. Together they wrote the book “Zone Therapy“ in 1917. Fitzgerald worked by applying pressure, not to the whole body, but to the hands and the feet; thereby he concentrated on the fingers and toes. This applied pressure supposedly does not impact the whole "zone".

The reaction of the majority of his colleagues ranged from indifference to hostility. So it happened that when Riley, a naturopath, finally showed interest, Fitzgerald partnered with him. Riley wrote his own book, "Zone Therapy Simple" in 1919.

Reflexology also received interest - and was further developed - by B. Just and Eunice Ingham, who themselves were not doctors either. Eunice Ingham, a masseuse, wrote two books: "Stories Feet Can Tell" (1938) and "Stories Feet Have Told" (1951). These books contributed tremendously to popularising reflexology.

The foot reflexology system, as developed by Eunice D. Ingham and applied today, focuses on zones in the feet. The feet have been mapped so that the soles of the feet appear as a microcosm of the whole body. By applying pressure to the foot, certain diseases can be treated; also, by massaging the whole foot, the whole body can be brought into good condition. Ingham's work is carried on by the National Institute of Reflexology in Rochester, NY. Today, reflexology is considered a variation of the various forms of body medicine grouped under the general title of " Acupuncture".

The spread of reflexology was greatly promoted by the holistic, naturopathic health movement. It is often used to treat ailments related to stress.

Criticism

Like acupuncture and other related therapies, reflexology is based on the assumption that there are ten energy channels. Each of these ten channels supplies all the organs present in an area of the body. By palpating the feet, the practitioner can find out which channel is blocked and try to reactivate the energy flow through massage. The energy flow should restore the affected organ in its normal function.

It seems that knowledge gained through experience was retroactively established with the help of philosophical concepts related to Taoism. There is no doubt that massaging hands and feet is extremely relaxing and restorative; it could also have a stimulating effect on the healing of various parts of the body. But this would most likely be due to the stimulation of blood circulation, just as walking or barefoot walking or hot and cold foot baths do.

What reflexology is being offered as is a danger, as is the case with almost all alternative therapies. All Christians and Catholics must be aware that none of the therapies infused with Far Eastern philosophical thought have ever been scientifically proven. They are, however, led to the erroneous assumption that anything offered by "that ancient knowledge" is well tolerated and may be superior to orthodox medical teaching. What would be even worse is the assumption that the philosophical system, namely Taoism, used to explain the functioning of reflexology, is equivalent to Christian teaching. One is easily seduced to believe that eventually all religions and philosophies amount to the same thing, since their common goal is to explain experiences that all human beings have. But this is an essential fallacy, since the Judeo-Christian knowledge of the relationship between God and man is a revealed knowledge. The Trinitarian aspect of this knowledge is beyond human comprehension.

The other world religions, especially Taoism, have developed systems of thought that embrace opposing manifestations of nature, e.g. male - female, hard - soft, dark - light, good - evil. From this, in turn, the way of thinking about the alleged exchange of energy in the universe as well as in the human body has developed. The balance of negative and positive energy is pursued and supposedly regulated by pressure. The human being is understood as a mini-cosmos, which again is a reflection of the macro-cosmos, as which the universe is seen.

To be explicit once again about the use of reflexology: by all means massage your feet, walk barefoot and do any kind of healthy exercise, but don't be fooled into thinking that any alternative therapy is a panacea. Do not be captured by the hidden philosophical aspect without examining the therapy for its true content and recognising where the respective system deviates from the Christian understanding of God's creation.