February 12, 2010 ~ Reiki and the Catholic Church | Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

February 12, 2010 ~ Reiki and the Catholic Church Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

An interesting discussion regarding the practice of Reiki and the negative view taken by the US Catholic Bishops. As a Reiki practitioner myself, it is somewhat disheartening that a spiritual practice meant to alleviate pain and suffering would be dismissed by the bishops of the Catholic Church. It is a rather odd stance given that Jesus and his followers were known to practice spiritual healing and exorcisms. According to the Gospel of Luke 6:18-20:

"They had come to hear him {Jesus} and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowed were trying to touch him {Jesus}, for the power came out from him and healed all of them."

Later, in the Gospel of Luke 9:1-3, 6

"Then Jesus' called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal...they departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere."

While I can appreciate the bishops' concern for right teaching, Reiki in and of itself is not a belief system. It is an outlook on life meant to encourage wholeness and well-being; it is not meant to be the cause of separation and strife. Christians can interpret Reiki within the doctrines of the church. For that matter, any traditional religious practices can accommodate the practice of Reiki. Jesus and his followers proclaimed the reality of the Kingdom of God, as a transformational reality in which the blind would see, the lame would walk, the deaf would hear, the prisoners would go free (I am paraphrasing both the Book of Isaiah and the Gospel of Luke.) Further, Jesus spoke about the in breaking reality of the reign of God where "the first would be last, and the last would be first," and that all would have a place in God's kingdom. I suppose all Christians that practice the ministry of healing should take heart; after a; the religious authorities of Jesus' day gave him and his followers hell for practicing the ministry of healing, too. If I remember the scriptures correctly, this was one of the reasons his opponents had him killed.

Perhaps, the Catholic bishops might be in bad faith, as they seem to doubt the reality of healing that was the cornerstone of Jesus' ministry.

YouTube - Nina Simone Live At Montreux 1976 - Backlash Blues

YouTube - Nina Simone Live At Montreux 1976 - Backlash Blues

Nina Simone, musician, singer, and activist, was a true original. She was uncompromising in her music and in views. She was the consummate artist indifferent to the whims of the recording industry. She recorded her music her way. It is a shame that she is not more well known and respected in the United States.