Healing from disease: a desire for everyone. A goal that drives the researchers of yesterday and today to work ceaselessly to offer the man of every age the chance to get out of suffering physical or mental condition.
Healing hands of God, a gift of faith, similar to that offered by Christ during the three years of earthly ministry, or healing the hand of man, indeed, a doctor, thanks to drugs synthesis gradually succeeded to heal, and also to heal many kinds of diseases.
In recent years, however, revealed several other forms of medicine, the so-called "alternative medicine". Homeopathy, to name just the most famous, or the acupuncture, followed by a string of many names more or less twisted, and practices that come to touch the esoteric.
But is it right to cross over into methods that are not always the result of study, discernment and human experimentation, but, in contrast, have their roots in ritualistic practices are very close to the world of the occult? And, above all, a Christian can use them without having an injury if not physical, even spiritual?
A great help is given to us by an authoritative book called "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (If Press, 2010), written by an equally authoritative medical internist, surgeon, as well as bioethicist, called Francesco Bungaro. In this book, Bungaro answers to many questions about the validity or otherwise of these practices on a scientific level, and if they are compatible with the Christian life, in addition, the essay explains the meaning of healing in the Bible and the current reality of the Church, offering a careful reflection on healing in the Old and New Testament. Bungaro is also the author of several articles on addiction, which has recently collected in another book entitled: "Christ freed us to remain free".
Speaking of alternative medicines, Bungaro it this way: "When traditional medicine fails, as in the case of some diseases, to respond to the physical suffering of a man, this or his family, are directed towards any experience or technique can be their help, falling into the error of relying on alternative medicine, often reaching a therapeutic techniques that have proved more effective than placebo human and that is meant to be "sweet", but that may be hidden dangers to health, and spiritual pitfalls serious, and can reach up to the operators of the occult, and there are likely to lose, besides lapropria physical health, even your own soul. "
seem to go down heavy Dr. Bungaro, but then there must be a danger even if the Pontifical Council for Culture and Interreligious Dialogue, in a document entitled "Jesus Christ, Bearer of Living Water", was expressed thus: "The New Age advertises a wide range of practices as acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic, kinesiology, homeopathy, iridology [...] various types of herbal medicine, crystal therapy, the metallotherapy, color therapy and music therapy [...]. The New Age believes that the source of healing is within us and that we can reach when in contact with our inner energy or cosmic energy. "
Here, then, the real issue, the sore point, which is incompatible with Christian faith, and transforms the seemingly innocent appeal to these practices in a form of subtle, creeping apostasy.
The Christian knows he can not heal himself, knows he is an incarnate spirit, image and likeness of God and the Word of God confirms this understanding in the book of Sirach which reads: "Honor the physician must be in need, too, was created by the Lord [...] Son, delay not sickness, but pray to the Lord and He will heal you [...] goes on to pass the doctor - The Lord has created him - not be far away from you, because you need it. There are cases where the success is in their hands " . (Sirach 38, 1-14)
Today's consumers of homeopathic products are 300 million worldwide, of which 50 million in Europe alone. The medical acupuncturists only about 10 thousand Italy, and treat about 2,500,000 patients each year. Some Italian hospitals are already equipped opening the doors to these practices and currently over 25 universities in our country take courses in alternative medicine.
The Council of Europe has defined alternative medicine as "that set of practices and disparate treatment which ignore the methods of scientific medicine, which have their origin or traditions handed down from the distant past or current extra-scientific or philosophical ideologies, cultures and Eastern religions and are united by their demand for greater safety and efficacy.
Yet the Italian Society of Internal Medicine, after a long and constructive discussion, said that "these practices by many considered as" complementary, "ignoring the more established knowledge in the biomedical sciences and appear devoid of any rational foundation. " even harsher remarks Coordinator Regional of the Medical Association of Liguria, Renato Giusto, who said: "People, with the advent of the New Age, is left confused by the word" natural "but is also a natural poison! In Italy there should be greater control of homeopathy for the protection of those patients who are entitled to be informed that in homeopathy there is no active ingredient. "
The Catholic Church in its Catechism (section 2293) states that "basic scientific research as applied research, constitute a significant expression of man's dominion over creation ". In motion New Age is not the case, as it is covered and not just the autosalvezza salvation from another, God, who reveals to man his sin, and at the same time expresses his love.
In conclusion, Bungaro encourages the believer to disregard a good healing practice simply because it works, but to consider that the means are compatible with Christian teachings, especially that are free of components of the occult, and no opposition to idolatry, net or sliding, with the Catholic faith.
The term spiritual, in fact, may mislead many, and hide behind phrases for effect, a good dose of the occult, which can cause damage on a spiritual level well above a physical illness.
Sabrina Pietrangeli Paluzzi
for "The Optimist" No 43, December 30, 2010
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