Last month I complained of the ever appearing New Age symbolism and I didn't truly explain the Yin and Yang. The meaning of this symbol was listed in the Watchman Expositor 1997-1998 Index of Cults and Religions: Yin and Yang: New Age concept borrowed from Taoism holding that the universe consists of two opposite energy forces (positive/negative; male/female, etc..) Both are necessary and both must be harmonized for proper function. This Yin and Yang also flow through the human body so that a balance is required to maintain health. Many New Age medical techniques are based on attempts to balance this alleged energy or chic. When all is balanced, the Yin and Yang harmonize and the body works properly.
Taoism: Lao-tzu Chinese philosophy teaching that there is no personal God - all is the impersonal Tao (similar to impersonal God-force of Hindu pantheism). The Tao is composed of conflicting opposites (Yin and Yang) which should be balanced or harmonized through yoga, meditation, etc. to promote spiritual wholeness. According to the legend, Taoism founder Lao-tzu wrote Tao Te Ching (The Way and Its Power") about 550 B.C.. His teaching developed and spread in the third century B.C. by Chuang - Tzu whose writings inspired the Tao Tsang, 1200 volumes of Taoist scripture.
Chi: Invisible energy or force is alleged to make up the universe and flow through all living things via meridians or chakras.
Acupuncture: Chinese system of healing, using needles or hand pressure (acupressure) to balance the yin and yang energies in the body by opening blocked meridians (apexes in the pathways). Once the chakras (key points or intersections) are open, the energy [chi] can then flow through the body bringing all things into harmony. While some limited physical effect (mostly anesthetic) can be attributed to this practice, these effects have scientific, physiological explanations totally unrelated to Taoist theories.
Holistic Health: (New Age Medicine/ Alternative Medicine) A view of health care focusing on the "whole self" (body, mind and spirit) and aural or spiritual cures. Some holistic health remedies and assumptions (i.e. focus on wellness and prevention) are well within the Christian world view and are scientifically valid. Much within this movement, however, is based on pantheistic concepts, New Age "visualization," and eastern religious beliefs such as Chinese Taoism (Yin and Yang). Most questionable are such holistic practices which have no valid physiological explanation or valid scientific proof such as Applied Kinesiology, reflexology and irridology.
Since we are on the subject of alternative medicines we might as well have a little discussion on it. I agree with the comment "What is promoted as alternative religion. Medicare HMOs hold educational meeting periodically and bring social workers who get the floor for an hour or so. They promote mental health by practicing alternative medicine which includes visualization, deep breathing and meditation techniques.
In church, in example Gloria Copeland, told between 7,000 to 10,000 listeners at a conference how to tap into a universal energy field which will relieve the woes of their lives. Unlike God, however, this energy field makes no moral claims on the person. It is supposedly accessible in a tangible way at any time, once some techniques are learned. In effect, it offers control over divine power without having to repent.
Belief in this energy's existence rooted in Eastern mystical religions and Western occult traditions, which would not have anything to do with God.
The Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine and Self-Help notes that life force or prana "can be harnessed by the individual who sensitizes himself by certain occult practices." These include meditation, deep breathing, chanting mantras, advanced visualization and "secret rituals which have been closely guarded secrets of the highest mystery schools on earth.. and beyond." (Malcolm Hulke, ed., "Spiritual Healing," p.178)
The well known New Age promoter Alice A. Bailey in her book "Treatise on White Magic, 6th ed. p. 576: "It is an occult fact that the hands of a disciple.. become transmitters of spiritual energy." In a Witches Bible.. : Volume 2: The Rituals, p.229 by Janet and Stewart Farar: "Most experienced auric healers will not normally touch the patient's body during the "laying on of hands": they will hold them an inch or two away, in contact with the inner aura. After passing their hands over patients, TT practitioners often flick their wrists to remove "the negative energy" just as in occult practices.. When the pass is completed, swing the fingers sideways, as if you were throwing water from them." (Yogi Ramacharaka, the Science of Psychic Healing, p.53)
Christian home schoolers were unwittingly involved in 1997 passing out free tapes by an ex-veterinarian who turned to naturopath (Joel Wallach, Dead Doctors Don't Lie). Joel has promoted everything from metabolic cancer treatment in a Mexican clinic, to chelation, to multi-level colloidal minerals - now telling people that the secrets of longevity can be found watching the 1930s James Hilton movie "Lost Horizon."
Southern Baptist magazine featured reflexology with addresses were readers might get this New Age treatment. Christian Single, August, 1996 pp. 32-34 magazine featured "Feet don't Fail Me Now" A group of pastors and their wives in Florida produced a cassettes titled "God's Super Food," which chronicled their enhanced (physical, mental and most certainly financial) well being from eating blue-green algae. Professing Christians use irridology and muscle testing to sell herbs as part of "God's provision."
Christians are to completely avoid the occult realm of witchcraft which they enter into when participating. These alternative medicines making their way into hospital rooms and awareness is called for today more than ever.
Where New Age thinking and alternative medicine mesh is in the failure to have an objective standard upon which one can base, or measure, claims and theories.
What all is considered alternative medicine? Here are some, they are unlimited and dependent on what people think up next: aroma therapy, lit candles, Bach flower remedies, polarity therapy, various "electromagnetic" or computerized devices, Interro and Vega machines, zappers, and diodes - homeopathy, acupuncture, Touch for health, Therapeutic Touch, irrodology, kinesiology and muscle response testing, ear coning, palmisty, craniosacral adjustment, crystals, reflexology, aura reading, psychic readings, seat lodges, pendulums, color therapy, ayurveda, naturopathy, some nutritional counseling and herbalism, energy balancing, some of the massage therapies, chelation, and the cancer "cures" - the Manner Seminar, Greek Cancer Cure, Gerson's diet, Burzynski's "antieoplstons," - and the other treatments of assorted Mexican and European alternative clinics. Most have Christian promoters, which puts a believer in jeopardy.
A Christian who speaks the same language as another Christian assumes that the other person is trustworthy, sincere and honest. Instead the Christian becomes involved in quackery which is beyond their understanding and could hasten their death. I had a mother and father who were subject to this kind of quackery and both suffered for many years and came to an early death because they trusted the treatments they were getting and did not seek professional medical help. In closing "Christians who avoid examining, or accede to, the rampant misuse of Scripture in promoting these treatments, cannot claim to "love the truth" and should plan on being deceived." (Mucht of this information was taken from the Watchman Expositor, vol 14, no.1, 1997 - PO Box 13340 - Arlington, TX 76094-1340)