Christian Science has been subject to significant criticism and public controversy throughout its history. The most highly publicized controversy surrounds Christian Science and medicine. While church members point out that followers are free to choose to seek traditional medical treatment, most rely heavily or exclusively on healing by prayer (Christian Scientists distinguish their method from “faith healing,” arguing that this term refers merely to blind faith, while thei ...

See also:

Church of Christ, Scientist, Church of Christ, Scientist - Theology and healing, Church of Christ, Scientist - Origins and early development, Church of Christ, Scientist - Theology, Church of Christ, Scientist - Spiritual healing in the material world, Church of Christ, Scientist - Organization, Church of Christ, Scientist - Recent history, Church of Christ, Scientist - Notable Christian-Scientists, Church of Christ, Scientist - Public controversy

Read more here: » Church of Christ, Scientist: Encyclopedia II - Church of Christ, Scientist - Public controversy

He was influenced by the teachings of E.W. Kenyon (1867-1948), and what came to be called the "gospel of guaranteed prosperity and health". For him, healing was "guaranteed in the atonement", and has been summarised in his cliché, "What I confess, I possess". Hobart, in his book Faith for Healing said that "Confession brings possession, for what you confess is your faith speaking." These ideas aroused much opposition wit ...

See also:

Hobart Freeman, Hobart Freeman - Early Life, Hobart Freeman - Publications, Hobart Freeman - Teaching and Preaching, Hobart Freeman - Trials, Hobart Freeman - Final Trial, Hobart Freeman - Further Trials, Hobart Freeman - Legacy

Read more here: » Hobart Freeman: Encyclopedia II - Hobart Freeman - Teaching and Preaching

occult medicine: Field that encompasses astrology, aura analysis, biorhythm, Christian Science, clairvoyant diagnosis, faith healing, Kirlian photography, medical graphology, mesmerism, palmistry, shamanism, TCM, and witchcraft.

(See also: Occult medicine, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Charismatic Gifts

According to Christian doctrine, the special spiritual gifts given to members of the Christian church. They are for edifying and building up the church. They are: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. Christians use the term to avoid using the term psychic.

(See also: Charismatic Gifts, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Word-Faith Movement

A movement based in large part on the teachings of E. W. Kenyon (1867-1948) that became a distinct movement under the teaching and leadership of Kenneth Hagin, a Pentecostal faith-healing evangelist.

Its teachings include: God himself created the world and all that he does by speaking words of faith. Man's creation in God's image means that human beings are “little gods” capable of speaking creative words of faith. The fall of Adam into sin transformed Adam (and all unredeemed people) into Satan's nature and transferred Adam's godhood or dominion on earth to Satan. Jesus became man in order to restore human beings to godhood as renewed “incarnations” of God. He did this by dying spiritually as well as physically on the cross, suffering in hell, and then while in hell becoming the first person to be “born again,” before finally being raised from the dead. Those who believe in Jesus are supposedly empowered to speak words of faith again, especially in order to obtain bodily health and financial prosperity. Most of the followers of the Word-Faith teachers are Pentecostals

(See also: Word-Faith Movement, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Notable Christian Scientists, and issues discussed about them, are dealt with at the List of Christian Scientists (religious denomination). Although a few entertainers and politicians had enough of a role in the history of the faith to merit brief mention here. For example Big Band leader Kay Kyser was a Christian Science practitioner who was honored by the faith for being one of their leading lecturers. He also ran their tv-film department. Alan Young of Mister Ed founded a broadcast division for the faith. Lastly British dipl ...

See also:

Church of Christ Scientist, Church of Christ Scientist - Theology and healing, Church of Christ Scientist - Origins and early development, Church of Christ Scientist - Theology, Church of Christ Scientist - Spiritual healing in the material world, Church of Christ Scientist - Organization, Church of Christ Scientist - Recent history, Church of Christ Scientist - Notable Christian-Scientists, Church of Christ Scientist - Public controversy

Read more here: » Church of Christ Scientist: Encyclopedia II - Church of Christ Scientist - Notable Christian-Scientists

Notable Christian Scientists, and issues discussed about them, are dealt with at the List of Christian Scientists (religious denomination). Although a few entertainers and politicians had enough of a role in the history of the faith to merit brief mention here. For example Big Band leader Kay Kyser was a Christian Science practitioner who was honored by the faith for being one of their leading lecturers. He also ran their tv-film department. Alan Young of Mister Ed founded a broadcast division for the faith. Lastly British dip ...

See also:

Church of Christ, Scientist, Church of Christ, Scientist - Theology and healing, Church of Christ, Scientist - Origins and early development, Church of Christ, Scientist - Theology, Church of Christ, Scientist - Spiritual healing in the material world, Church of Christ, Scientist - Organization, Church of Christ, Scientist - Recent history, Church of Christ, Scientist - Notable Christian-Scientists, Church of Christ, Scientist - Public controversy

Read more here: » Church of Christ, Scientist: Encyclopedia II - Church of Christ, Scientist - Notable Christian-Scientists

While there is no single standards organization and practitioners practice as they will, some choose to form Reiki communities to bring together often diverse knowledge and experience. Some of these communities have grown out of informal groupings of practitioners who organized Reiki circles for working together, while others have formed around a particular school or teacher. Many Reiki communities also emerged due, in part, to the expanding popularity of the internet. Global initiatives have been introduced to Reiki communities thereby ("healing the planet" or "global peace fostering" for example) and onli ...

See also:

Reiki, Reiki - Theories and practices, Reiki - History, Reiki - Non-traditional Reiki, Reiki - Celtic Reiki, Reiki - Reiki Tummo, Reiki - Courses, Reiki - Reiki community, Reiki - Controversies, Reiki - Opposition from religious groups, Reiki - Internal controversies, Reiki - Secret teachings, Reiki - The Reiki Grandmaster, Reiki - Reiki's origin, Reiki - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Reiki: Encyclopedia II - Reiki - Reiki community

Demythologization

A method of interpretation practiced by Christian theologian Rudolf Bultmann (1884-1976) to free the New Testament of first-century mythical concepts and discern its essential message (Gk. kerygma).

As a theologian, Bultmann affirmed that Christianity is based on the Christ of faith and not on the Jesus of history. As a German pastor, he was concerned that the essential proclamation of that faith be preached in ways that twentieth-century persons could appropriate.

Thus, demythologization entailed eliminating such prescientific concepts as a three-story universe (sky, earth, and underworld) and miraculous healings and replacing them with contemporary concepts.

(See also: Demythologization, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Mikao Usui's Reiki method spread all over the world. Correspondence courses over the internet even offer distance training. To achieve a complete education in the "Usui method of Reiki Healing," three courses are necessary: the 1st degree course, the 2nd degree course, and the master course. The specific content of each of these courses varies widely from one teacher to another, depending on personal philosophies. A typical set of courses ...

See also:

Reiki, Reiki - Theories and practices, Reiki - History, Reiki - Non-traditional Reiki, Reiki - Celtic Reiki, Reiki - Reiki Tummo, Reiki - Courses, Reiki - Reiki community, Reiki - Controversies, Reiki - Opposition from religious groups, Reiki - Internal controversies, Reiki - Secret teachings, Reiki - The Reiki Grandmaster, Reiki - Reiki's origin, Reiki - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Reiki: Encyclopedia II - Reiki - Courses

A Japanese Tendai Buddhist named Mikao Usui claimed to have "rediscovered" Reiki. After long meditation, fasting, and prayer, Usui claimed that, through a mystical revelation, he had gained the knowledge and spiritual power to apply and attune others to "Reiki's" healing energy. Mikao Usui claimed that he could enable his students to enlarge their access to the energy through certain initiations. Usui taught that attunement to the energy enhances and refines a person's ability to connect with this already occurring natural healing energy. Th ...

See also:

Reiki, Reiki - Theories and practices, Reiki - History, Reiki - Non-traditional Reiki, Reiki - Celtic Reiki, Reiki - Reiki Tummo, Reiki - Courses, Reiki - Reiki community, Reiki - Controversies, Reiki - Opposition from religious groups, Reiki - Internal controversies, Reiki - Secret teachings, Reiki - The Reiki Grandmaster, Reiki - Reiki's origin, Reiki - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Reiki: Encyclopedia II - Reiki - History

The word 'reiki' is a generic term which can be and is used for many techniques. The information below may or may not apply to anything called 'reiki.' Some schools teach that Reiki energy enters the practitioner through the 7th (crown or Shasrara) chakra, fills the practitioner's aura and flows through her or his hands into the body of the recipient. It is also taught that Reiki energy enters through the 1st (root or Muladhara) chakra at the base of the spine, fills the aura, becomes centered in the 4th (heart or ...

See also:

Reiki, Reiki - Theories and practices, Reiki - History, Reiki - Non-traditional Reiki, Reiki - Celtic Reiki, Reiki - Reiki Tummo, Reiki - Courses, Reiki - Reiki community, Reiki - Controversies, Reiki - Opposition from religious groups, Reiki - Internal controversies, Reiki - Secret teachings, Reiki - The Reiki Grandmaster, Reiki - Reiki's origin, Reiki - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Reiki: Encyclopedia II - Reiki - Theories and practices

The independent movement developed partly in response to the belief that Reiki training should be more widely available and practiced in a flexible and complementary way with other practices, and as a political reaction to the mainstream of Hawayo Takata's style. Furthermore, some practitioners believe that Reiki is humanity's birthright. New paths were developed out of the Reiki core that fused it with New Age thinking regarding wicca, shamanism, channeling and so forth. Also, new symbols and practices are often added. Many of these symbols ...

See also:

Reiki, Reiki - Theories and practices, Reiki - History, Reiki - Non-traditional Reiki, Reiki - Celtic Reiki, Reiki - Reiki Tummo, Reiki - Courses, Reiki - Reiki community, Reiki - Controversies, Reiki - Opposition from religious groups, Reiki - Internal controversies, Reiki - Secret teachings, Reiki - The Reiki Grandmaster, Reiki - Reiki's origin, Reiki - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Reiki: Encyclopedia II - Reiki - Non-traditional Reiki

The provenance of Usui's system is obscure, little independent documentation exists as to his influences. There are superficial resemblances to Chinese Taoist and Buddhist philosophies in the Reiki symbol terminology. Reiki however fails the standard test of whether a teaching is Buddhist or not; that of the three "Dharma Seals" or the "Three marks of existence". This doctrine states that any teaching or practice that does not extol these three core ideas cannot be said to be a Buddhist teaching, and Reiki does not. Reiki may however be said ...

See also:

Reiki, Reiki - Theories and practices, Reiki - History, Reiki - Non-traditional Reiki, Reiki - Celtic Reiki, Reiki - Reiki Tummo, Reiki - Courses, Reiki - Reiki community, Reiki - Controversies, Reiki - Opposition from religious groups, Reiki - Internal controversies, Reiki - Secret teachings, Reiki - The Reiki Grandmaster, Reiki - Reiki's origin, Reiki - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Reiki: Encyclopedia II - Reiki - Reiki's origin

The late 1930s and early 1940s were usually a blank patch in Branham's accounts of his life story, although there are some glimpses in his early booklets. Typically his story would resume in May 1946 when he broke from daily life to seek God and establish the meaning of his life. At this point he subsequently reported that he had received an angelic commissioning which began a public ministry of evangelism and faith healing. From accounts from Branham's family, it is evident that Branham had been conducting healing campaigns at least as earl ...

See also:

William M. Branham, William M. Branham - Early life conversion and ordination, William M. Branham - Successful public ministry, William M. Branham - Angelic visitations and supernatural signs, William M. Branham - Branham's doctrines and teachings, William M. Branham - His last years, William M. Branham - Branham's legacy and influence, William M. Branham - Current Followers and Main Belief, William M. Branham - Where The Group Is Located

Read more here: » William M. Branham: Encyclopedia II - William M. Branham - Successful public ministry

The late 1930s and early 1940s were usually a blank patch in Branham's accounts of his life story, although there are some glimpses in his early booklets. Typically his story would resume in May 1946 when he broke from daily life to seek God and establish the meaning of his life. At this point he subsequently reported that he had received an angelic commissioning which began a public ministry of evangelism and faith healing. From accounts from Branham's family, it is evident that Branham had been conducting healing campaigns at least as earl ...

See also:

William M. Branham, William M. Branham - Early life conversion and ordination, William M. Branham - Successful public ministry, William M. Branham - Angelic visitations and supernatural signs, William M. Branham - Branham's doctrines and teachings, William M. Branham - His last years, William M. Branham - Branham's legacy and influence, William M. Branham - Current Followers Beliefs, William M. Branham - Where The Group Is Located

Read more here: » William M. Branham: Encyclopedia II - William M. Branham - Successful public ministry

GUIDED IMAGERY

Imagery has a long and varied history in the healing traditions of mankind. The long-standing knowledge that imagery is a critical component of all healing experiences becomes clear when one considers the vital roles played by placebos, suggestion, and positive expectant faith.

Guided imagery utilizes the natural language of the unconscious mind. It facilitates an enhanced awareness of the unconscious imagery the patient/client already has, and helps clients learn to effectively work with this imagery on their own behalf. This process is capable of bringing about profound psychological and physiological change, as it simultaneously empowers and educates the patients. 

These images can provide important information about the problem, as well as the client's beliefs, expectations, fears, resources and solutions. Since many clients have uncanny accurate intuitions about their problems and solutions, the imagery process makes these insights easily available to them and their clinician.

Physically, imagery has the ability to directly influence the autonomic nervous system. The power of imagination can be recruited to promote specific physiological changes as an aid to healing. In addition, many studies indicate that certain imagery techniques may stimulate physiologic processes including immune and endocrine responses, which can accelerate the healing process.

(See also: GUIDED IMAGERY, Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Because of the lack of objective evidence for its theories or its results, and the mystical language and metaphor employed by its adherents, the scientific establishment considers Reiki to be nothing more than a placebo. Many scientists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, health professionals and others dispute the effectiveness of Reiki, stating that there is no proof or evidence that a mechanism for Reiki energy exists, nor proof that healing beyond that expected from th ...

See also:

Reiki, Reiki - Theories and practices, Reiki - History, Reiki - Non-traditional Reiki, Reiki - Celtic Reiki, Reiki - Reiki Tummo, Reiki - Courses, Reiki - Reiki community, Reiki - Controversies, Reiki - Opposition from religious groups, Reiki - Internal controversies, Reiki - Secret teachings, Reiki - The Reiki Grandmaster, Reiki - Reiki's origin, Reiki - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Reiki: Encyclopedia II - Reiki - Controversies

firewalking (the firewalk): Centuries-old practice of walking barefoot across:

(a)           a bed of hot cinders (usually coals) or stones, or

(b)           (b) a pit of fire.

Firewalking is typically a religious ritual (e.g., a test of faith or mystical hunt) and is comparable to self-healing. Roots of the ability to accomplish the firewalk include a personal bioelectric field, deities, and supernatural forces.

(See also: Firewalking, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

The Fourth Circuit, in a decision by Senior Circuit Judge John D. Butzner, Jr., affirmed the district court's ruling that Wicca was a religion, but vacated the injunction. The appellate court considered but rejected the claims of the government about Wicca itself, which included that Wicca was a mere "conglomeration" of "various aspects of the occult, such as faith healing, self-hypnosis, tarot card reading, and spell casting, none of which would be considered religious practices standing alone"[1], and t ...

See also:

Dettmer v. Landon, Dettmer v. Landon - Facts, Dettmer v. Landon - Opinion of the Fourth Circuit, Dettmer v. Landon - Importance of the case, Dettmer v. Landon - Notes and references

Read more here: » Dettmer v. Landon: Encyclopedia II - Dettmer v. Landon - Opinion of the Fourth Circuit

A Christian theological definition of Charismatic Gifts according to CARM - The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry:

"

Charismatic Gifts

See also: Charismatic Gifts, Christianity, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Faith Healing Dictionary

IURD's statutes of faith describe thirteen basic doctrines: the existence of one and only God, in the form of the Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Salvation for those who have faith in Christ, eternal life, inerrancy of the Bible, which was written by men divinely inspired by God, the Church as the universal union of all the Christians, baptism by immersion, divine healing, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, th ...

See also:

Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - History, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Doctrines, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Practices, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Spirituality, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Ecclesiastical Organization, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Controversies, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Tithe, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Disputes with Other Beliefs, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - The Kicking of the Saint, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Notes

Read more here: » Universal Church of the Kingdom of God: Encyclopedia II - Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Doctrines