WHAT ABOUT . . . KINESIOLOGY?
Origin
Kinesiology has its roots in the mystical teachings of Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and acupressure therapies also fit into this category as they “manipulate invisible energies” called “Ch’i” or “Live Force”. These practices utilize everything from needles, touch and hand passes to arm-pulling. Their “science” is based on conjecture, subjective impression, unreliable date and, most importantly, the precepts of Taoism. They stand separate from the scientific community. The “technology” of life energy is totally defined by the belief system of its promoters: mystics, psychics, and New Age leaders of “New Consciousness”.
History
In the early 1960’s, chiropractic practitioner George Goodheart came to the conclusion that muscle spasms were caused by muscle weakness. The task, according to Goodheart, would therefore be to locate the weak muscles and strengthen them. He then combined standard muscle-testing techniques from physical therapy with Chinese concepts of energy flow, eventually producing the “Applied Kinesiology Research Manuals”. His ideas were popularized by Pasadena chiropractor John Thie as “Touch for Health”—a new approach to restoring our natural energies”. Note that the applied kinesiology described here differs greatly from formal kinesiology (the study of bodily movements and the muscles that control them). Formal kinesiology is used in physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Touch for Health has become the most popular form of applied kinesiology. Thie states his belief that “the innate intelligence that runs the body is connected to universal intelligence that runs the world, so each person is plugged into the universal intelligence through the system.” His philosophy and core beliefs regarding life, the human body, and healing, are decidedly New Age.
How Kinesiology Is Practiced
These are the two main practices of kinesiology:
Christian Response
Patients of kinesiology are being treated on the basis of religious beliefs rather than physiological principles. The religious beliefs of Taoism (the foundation for kinesiology) are diametrically opposed to Christianity. The issues associated with kinesiology are not purely scientific, but have major spiritual implications as well. Any therapies that claim to be manipulating the visible energies of Ch’i, “life energy”, or the like, by using needles, touch, hand passes, arm-pulling, etc., fit into this dangerous category. Their “science” is based on conjecture, subjective impressions, unreliable date and most importantly, Taoism. They stand separate from the scientific community.
For a Christian to accept the passive stance of “patient” before a practitioner who exercises this type New Age spiritual power could easily result in spiritual bondage.
In the Biblical account of King Asa’s terminal illness we find him making the fatal mistake of seeking “physicians” (sorcerers or medicine men who operated with curses and magic) rather than the Lord. As a result, he died before his time (II Chron. 16: 12-13). As Ecclesiastes says, “There is nothing new under the sun”. The same spirits of deception, divination, and sorcery are still active in many areas of our society, especially alternative medicine.
Sources:
New Age Medicine, A Christian Perspective on Holistic Health, Paul Reisser, M.D., Teri Reisser, John Weldon.
Brooks Alexander, Co-director: The Spiritual Counterfeits Project.
Compiled by Safe Harbor Ministries ([email protected]) ~ Pass it on!
Origin
Kinesiology has its roots in the mystical teachings of Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and acupressure therapies also fit into this category as they “manipulate invisible energies” called “Ch’i” or “Live Force”. These practices utilize everything from needles, touch and hand passes to arm-pulling. Their “science” is based on conjecture, subjective impression, unreliable date and, most importantly, the precepts of Taoism. They stand separate from the scientific community. The “technology” of life energy is totally defined by the belief system of its promoters: mystics, psychics, and New Age leaders of “New Consciousness”.
History
In the early 1960’s, chiropractic practitioner George Goodheart came to the conclusion that muscle spasms were caused by muscle weakness. The task, according to Goodheart, would therefore be to locate the weak muscles and strengthen them. He then combined standard muscle-testing techniques from physical therapy with Chinese concepts of energy flow, eventually producing the “Applied Kinesiology Research Manuals”. His ideas were popularized by Pasadena chiropractor John Thie as “Touch for Health”—a new approach to restoring our natural energies”. Note that the applied kinesiology described here differs greatly from formal kinesiology (the study of bodily movements and the muscles that control them). Formal kinesiology is used in physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Touch for Health has become the most popular form of applied kinesiology. Thie states his belief that “the innate intelligence that runs the body is connected to universal intelligence that runs the world, so each person is plugged into the universal intelligence through the system.” His philosophy and core beliefs regarding life, the human body, and healing, are decidedly New Age.
How Kinesiology Is Practiced
These are the two main practices of kinesiology:
- Chinese pulse testing ~ recognizing deviations in the flow of Ch’i by feeling pulses in various “meridians” of the body. The goal is to bring balance (yin and yang) when order is blocked or drained. The therapist’s hand moves from one end of the meridian to the other in a continuous motion in an effort to restore strength. Other terms for this are correcting “auras” and the “magnetic pass”. The philosophy is: The universe is energy. We are energy. We are one.
- Muscle Strength/Arm strength test ~ used to check for food, vitamin, or medication intolerances. The person being tested extends his or her arm at a ninety-degree angle to the body. A “practitioner” pushes the arm downward at the wrist, with the subject offering resistance. After this initial test of strength, a certain food, vitamin, or medication is placed in the subject’s opposite hand or mouth. If the arm offers less resistance, the individual is declared to be allergic to the food, vitamin, or medication. The Muscle Strength Test is related to acupuncture points and the “lines of energy” used for centuries in Chinese medicine to direct the body’s own healing powers. Science has not discovered a magical communication between an undigested vitamin tablet and the body’s muscles. No one in the field of nutrition has discovered any vitamin touch points. Practitioners will also point to various other objects and practices that weaken energy. For instance, energy zappers include wearing sunglasses, using deodorants and perfumes, working under fluorescent lights, wearing synthetic material anywhere on your body, wearing a watch on the wrong wrist, listening to rock music, and the sign of the cross. Objects and practices that increase energy include a Greek Orthodox cross, a swastika, classical music, organic foods, etc. So the cross of Jesus is bad for you and the Nazi swastika is good for you?! Enough said.
Christian Response
Patients of kinesiology are being treated on the basis of religious beliefs rather than physiological principles. The religious beliefs of Taoism (the foundation for kinesiology) are diametrically opposed to Christianity. The issues associated with kinesiology are not purely scientific, but have major spiritual implications as well. Any therapies that claim to be manipulating the visible energies of Ch’i, “life energy”, or the like, by using needles, touch, hand passes, arm-pulling, etc., fit into this dangerous category. Their “science” is based on conjecture, subjective impressions, unreliable date and most importantly, Taoism. They stand separate from the scientific community.
For a Christian to accept the passive stance of “patient” before a practitioner who exercises this type New Age spiritual power could easily result in spiritual bondage.
In the Biblical account of King Asa’s terminal illness we find him making the fatal mistake of seeking “physicians” (sorcerers or medicine men who operated with curses and magic) rather than the Lord. As a result, he died before his time (II Chron. 16: 12-13). As Ecclesiastes says, “There is nothing new under the sun”. The same spirits of deception, divination, and sorcery are still active in many areas of our society, especially alternative medicine.
Sources:
New Age Medicine, A Christian Perspective on Holistic Health, Paul Reisser, M.D., Teri Reisser, John Weldon.
Brooks Alexander, Co-director: The Spiritual Counterfeits Project.
Compiled by Safe Harbor Ministries ([email protected]) ~ Pass it on!
RSS Feed