The Guardian: Superstitious wingnuts reject superstitious wingnuttery
Today’s The Guardian reports that the hand-waving catholic church in the USA has banned the hand-waving that is reiki treatment in its institutions, describing it as unscientific
and inappropriate
.
Guidelines issued by the committee on doctrine at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops warn healthcare workers and chaplains that the therapy “lacks scientific credibility” and could expose people to “malevolent forces”.
The document also claims that for a Catholic to believe in reiki presents “insurmountable problems”.
Reiki means “universal life energy” and was developed by the theology professor Dr Mikao Usui at the turn of the 20th century, from Buddhist beliefs and Sanskrit teachings. The client lies on a couch, clothed and relaxing, while the therapist’s hands rest lightly on the body in a special sequence. Clients often report heat and tingling sensations.
The money quote (with my emphasis) goes as follows:
The church’s guidelines state: “A Catholic who puts his or her trust in reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no man’s land that is neither faith nor science. Superstition corrupts one’s worship of God by turning one’s religious feeling and practice in a false direction.”
The intellectual compartmentalisation at work here is, to me, astounding. Then again, hypocrisy is not something lacking in the catholic church.
The Guardian: Catholic bishops in US ban Japanese reiki
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