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Faith healing is sometimes accompanied with the refusal of modern Medical techniques. Critics, such as James Randi , say it is a Quack practice in which the "healers" trick desperate people.1 As the supposed results of faith healing have never been substantiated, it is the subject of controversy. Spiritual healing can also refer to the self-empowerment or self-actualization process or steps within those processes that often occurs with individuals seeking enlightenment or meaning in their lives. Often no "healing" is visible as no damage was visible. "Faith healing" may be intertwined with these processes but not always and those who believe in one might not believe in the other. Background The term is sometimes used in reference to the belief of some Christians who hold that God heals people through the power of the Holy Spirit , often involving the " Laying On Of Hands ". Those who hold to this belief do not usually use the term "faith healing" in reference to the practice; that expression is often used descriptively by commentators outside of the faith movement in reference to the belief and practice. Faith healing also reported by Catholics as the result of Intercessory Prayer of a Saint or a person with the gift of healing. An example of a person reported to have the gift of healing is Blessed Brother Andre Besette, CSC , a Holy Cross Brother known as the "Miracle Man of Montreal". The Catholic Church requires one or two Miracle s for the Canonization of a saint, depending on the case. These are most often cases of faith healing reported as resulting from that person's intercession. Faith healing is not scientifically effective. What few controlled studies have been performed have evidenced no beneficial effect. Its practitioners only cite ). However, many faith healers may be aware that their 'cure' is ineffective, but they 'believe' in it, nevertheless. The objective of these 'faith' healers is to placate or reassure their patients. The faith healer ministers to the 'sick', but what is offered is known to have no actual effect on whatever is causing the patients's problems or anxiety. The 'placebo' effect can therefore be detrimental. The power of Suggestion may convince a patient that he can walk on a broken leg, but while the patient may be able to stand and move, the bone will fail to mend properly because the actual Injury has not been treated. NEW THOUGHT HEALING (MENTAL HEALING) A different form of Faith healing (Mental healing) are very important aspects of The New Thought Movement . Denominations that have emerged in New Thought - Religious Science , Divine Science , Unity . In this belief system mans true nature is divine (The Christ consciousness). Through affrimitive prayer and meditation which aligns you with your true nature -Christ Mind- you will experience a mental and or a physical healing. In aligning with your Christ nature you become a channel for God to move through you, in you, as you. " You to shall do greater works than these" stated Jesus. In New Thought it is not enough to be Christian, but to embody and emulate The Christ ( Budha Nature ect...). In doing so everyone has access to the healing attibutes of the the Christ . Unlike other form of Faith healing where by the belief in Jesus and his divinity heals you. New Thought does not dispute Jesus's divinity but states we all have that spark of the divine in each one of us and our ability to access it is what heals you. Practitioners are used in both New Thought and Christian Science. New Thought differs from Christian Science and other forms of Faith healing in that God is in everything and that includes medicine. So as you access the Christ consciousness you can also use a more traditional medical approach (Treatments can be simultaneous). Jesus states as you "believe it is done onto you" so it is the belief you can be healed that heals you. The medicine has a placebo effect so in essence your belief in it heals you (Christ mind). Each person is encouraged to explore the right course of treatment for themselves. Christian Science is similar to the New Thought in its healing practices where they deviate is in there use of traditional medicine. Christian Science tenets frowns on the use of traditional medical treatment. IN THE UNITED STATES In the United States faith healing is popular in circles of Pentecostalism . In the 1920s and 1930s Aimee Semple McPherson was a controversial faith healer of growing popularity during the Great Depression . By the late 1940s Oral Roberts was well known and continued with faith healing until the 1980s. A friend of Roberts was another popular faith healer, Kathryn Kuhlman , who gained fame in the 1950s and had a television program on CBS . Also in this era, Jack Coe and A. A. Allen were faith healers with large a following, and travelled with large tents to hold mobile, open air crusades. In contrast Ernest Angley in Akron, Ohio made his fame on television. As Oral Roberts demand to use the television as a medium to gain a wider audience others followed suit. For example, Pat Robertson and Peter Popoff were well-known Televangelist s who claimed to heal the sick. LeRoy Jenkins was a well-known and financially-successful faith healer during the 1970s, his operation grossing $3 million a year. In 1979, Jenkins ran afoul of the law and was sentenced to 12 years in South Carolina state prison for a multitude of crimes, including conspiring to burn down the homes of both a state trooper and a creditor. Released from prison early after serving 5 1/2 years, he resumed his faith-healing business. His tarnished reputation never healed. Notably James Randi researched Peter Popoff who claimed to heal sick people and give personal details about their lives. Randi exposed the voice of God was really radio transmissions of Popoff's wife, Elizabeth, off-stage reading information which she and her aides had gathered from earlier conversation with members of the audience.2 Richard Rossi , known for advertising his healing clinics through Secular television and radio, claimed he could demonstrate and prove God's power to unbelievers through indisputable miracles. Modern healing evangelists include Benny Hinn and Peter Youngren , who based their work and model on Kuhlman. Hinn, like the others, was videotaped by hidden cameras and profiled on an episode CBC's The Fifth Estate over allegations of fraudulent activity.3 MEDICAL ISSUES Faith healing poses serious ethical problems when faith healers encourage ill people not to receive medical treatment from licensed doctors. Notably in the 1980s, Peter Popoff encouraged people to throw away their medicine (such an insulin) during his "miracle crusade" when he asserted that he "healed" them. The British Columbia Cancer Agency "strongly urges individuals who are ill not to seek treatment by psychic surgeon."4 Another issue is when parents decline or refuse traditional medical care for their children. In some countries, parents argue that constitutional guarantees of religious freedom include the right to rely on alternative healing to the exclusion of medical care. Advocates of conventional medicine argue studies have shown faith healing no more effective than a placebo, making it unethical to rely on, though advocates of spiritual healing argue there exist methodical and bias issues. Doctors as a rule consider it their duty to do everything that they can in the interests of the patient. In consequence, where they judge medical treatment necessary to save a child's life or health, and balancing the question with legal and privacy concerns, they may act contrary to the preference of a patient's parents. In 2000 , a UK government ruling allowed a child to be treated by doctors against the parents' wishes. In 2001, Herman and Trijntje Jongkind of New Zealand were tried with "neglecting to provide the necessaries of life" to their 17-month old son. The couple were refusing antibiotic treatment demanded by doctors in favor of organic remedies and prayer. In 2007 the Canadian government seized custody of Canada’s first sextuplets after "their struggle for life has provoked a ferocious battle pitching Church against State and a child’s right to life against parents’ rights to practise their faith."5 THEOLOGY |
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