Excerpt from chapter three in: A Catholic Response to the New Age Phenomenon by the Irish Theological Commission in 1994. To see the contents of the whole chapter, click here.
"New Age Movement" is abbreviated as NAM.
One of the very disturbing aspects of trance channelling is the phenomenon of psychic healing. In her book The Beautiful Side of Evil Johanna Michaelsen testifies to have been involved as an aide to a person involved in psychic healing. She claims to have witnessed astounding events, that could only be called 'miracles' to the onlooker. This raises the question of false miracles, or miracles coming from an evil source. Operations were carried out that amazed medical doctors, both as to the methods used, and the results achieved. The channelled spirit communicated with all those present and controlled the operations. Because this type of activity is not new or uncommon today, one must question the source. Do we accept healing at any price? Where is this power coming from? If it is not from God, do you want to allow some alien force to invade your personality?
Elliot Miller claims that 'Psychic healing has rapidly become accepted as a valid form of therapy in the medical world.' He says that a survey done in 1981 showed that fifty-eight per cent of medical school faculty members wanted psychic phenomena included in psychiatric training. 151 Pranic healing has also become very popular, even among Christians. This is based on the Hindu concept of 'prana' or 'universal life energy' which flows through the body. In a trance-like state the practitioner becomes a channel of universal life energy for the patient, who assimilates this energy (ibid.).
NOTES
(Full details of the publications referred to in these notes can be found in the Select Bibliography).
151. A Crasb Course in The New Age, Elliot Miller, p. 93.
