Christians and cranial oesteopathy

[Jasmum]

Can you please help me understand this...
I want to take my DS to see a cranial oesteopath and am not a church goer or a christian, my DP is however. He refuses to let me take him to see one that is highly recommended on the basis of the 'spiritual side' of their work as he calls it. He thinks its a load of rubbish who pray on people with issues. He's beleives that the laying of the hands on the body is a type of healing that goes against his beleifs.
We've never really discussed religion, I fell pg v.quikly after meeting him before the subject of religion had really come up. But he is VERY into his faith and I try to avoid the conversations about it. He takes our DD1 to church every Sunday and although it's not for me I don't have a massive problem with that. But now that it comes to me wanting to take Ds2 to a CO he's putting his foot down and says he will not allow it! Why, I don't understand the problem and we just end up arguing.
He read up about it on the web last nite and it's not recognised by the BMA or other official medical bodies and one site quotes "to channel the postive energies through the body" which he laughed at.
Please help me understand this...

Good luck! I was very sceptical (on lack-of-belief-in-unscientific-stuff grounds, not religious ones) but my dd2 was like a different child after two sessions.

The reason is spiritual. There is an understanding in some Christian circles that laying on of hands can be dangerous because of the transfer of demons into the body especially on specific parts of the body; head, stomach, forehead. Even Christians are advised to be careful who (in terms of ‘pastors’ who lays hands of them)… whatever bad spirit that is in them is easily transferred.

I have a very religious family ( christian) and they would not use CO.
They would consider it "iffy" and a gateway to the demonic.
I accept that most christians would think CO is OK, but some don't.
It is a thing.

Not sure about Cranial Osteopathy specifically, but I've had sessions with an Osteopath for back issues in the past and I'm a Christian. I would avoid reiki, acupuncture, certain types of massage, chakra healing, that sort of thing, but just physical manipulation of muscles and joints isn't an issue.

P.S. Are they Pentecostals?

I wouldn’t have it because of the easy transfer of spirits. Whatever is in them, can be transferred to you. Someone I know had it and said it was effective, but the oestropath did nothing but touch key points on her body and had to concentrate in silence when doing so. What was happening spiritually in that moment? You do not know what people involve themselves with and whether or not they have ‘spiritually infected’ you. Risky. It’s well known, even in church, to be careful not to allow anyone to touch you unless you know their spiritual standing well.

be careful not to allow anyone to touch you unless you know their spiritual standing well.

How does that work in practice?
Do you question everyone of their spiritual practices before you permit contact?
Hardressers?
Beauticians?
Manicurists?
Surgeon?
A nurse giving you a smear test or vaccination?
Dentists?
A bra fitter?
Security staff at an airport patting you down?

Do you really question all these people as to whether they are spiritually clean?
How does that conversation go?

@Libby98765 Which church is that? I agree we need to be careful about negative spiritual influences, but I don't understand how spirits can infect other people through touch. It shouldn't be possible for a Christian to be demon possessed anyway as they are filled with the Holy Spirit.

A Christian cannot be demon possessed if they have the Holy Spirit but they can be indwelt by demons in their soul or body area. Demon possession is full possession of the spirit, soul and body.

with regard to the area of touch, there are some professions where there is a greater likelihood for spiritual transactions to take place. Some professions require rituals or certain processes to be performed or undertaken which can open the door for demonic indwelling. Such people can be used as channels for demonic transference.

It's a bit late to give OP any advice, given that her child is probably an adult by now.

Thanks @TeamRR I've just seen the date - who on earth bumps up these threads?!

@Libby98765 Interesting theory, haven't heard of that before, still not sure there's anything biblical to support it though.

There are many scriptural references to the laying of of hands, some of which signify Gods command and approval to transfer His anointing from one person to another. When you see Christian ceremonies performed, you will often see one person of spiritual authority lay their hands on another.

Read exodus 29:10 - the sins of the people were transferred into the bull… here there was a spiritual transference of the sins of the people into the animal.

conversely, there are many examples of laying of hand practices that are not ordained by God, but can have ‘healing’ effects.

“Reiki for example is a form of energy healing, a type of alternative medicine. Reiki practitioners use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through which a "universal energy" is said to be transferred through the palms of the practitioner to the patient in order to encourage emotional or physical healing”

Laying of hands carries great spiritual significance, both good and bad. We must always test the spirit before we allow any kind of access into to our own bodies.

Read exodus 29:10 - the sins of the people were transferred into the bull… here there was a spiritual transference of the sins of the people into the animal.

@Libby98765, since you are talking from a Christian perspective, how complete do you regard Christ's sacrifice? Either you believe and have faith that His sacrifice has the power to redeem you or not.

Scripturally, believers lay hands on other (sick and sinful) people and heal them. They don't go about worrying about whether physical contact would mean they were in danger from receiving other's sins or demons...

Some of the people in the church I grew up in would be highly suspicious of things like yoga, pilates, reike, acupuncture and so on. Even aromatherapy or homeopathy. Mostly because of their origins and associations with other religions and practices; it was all viewed as very dodgy.

I'm a Christian and regularly do pilates and yoga (really helps my arthritis) and it's all done from a fitness point of view, nothing else. I've had massage and acupuncture too - was very sceptical about it when I went for acupuncture but it worked a treat. They chap doing it was very open about it and said he didn't know exactly how it worked, or why it works for some poeple and not for others - and he'd done some of his training in China and Japan.

I think with a lot of these things it depends on how you approach it. You can take it completely as a 'fitness' thing or a 'pain relief' thing without having to believe in, subscribe to, or engage with any of the spiritual philosophy that might underlie those practices.

The whole 'spiritual warfare' thing was big in my church when I was a kid, but I can't say I've ever heard of needing to be careful of who touches you in case you get 'spiritually infected'... and I don't know of any biblical basis for that either.
How does that work with being protected and looked after by God, or the putting on the armour of God?

Yes, Jesus paid the price through His sacrifice, he most definitely did, but does that give a licence to engage in practices and things that are in contravention to His will. Going to psychics and mediums for example are strictly forbidden for the believer, despite scripture telling us that “greater is He who is in you, than he that is in the world”. We have boundaries as Christians.

2 Corinthians 6 16-17 tells us to come away from the ‘unclean’ thing… this suggests that despite having the Spirit of God within us, there is still a possibility that we can come into contact or allow an unclean thing to affect us!

Libby98765 what is "unclean"?

@Libby98765, undoubtably there is a balance to be had. Yet, cranial osteopathy is not the same as seeing a psychic or medium. Cranial osteopathy as far as I can understand is about the physical manipulation of the skull bones to ensure there isn't any undue pressure on areas on the brain. Essentially a physical practice much like an orthodontist, I would have thought.

Whereas mediums and psychics involve what is most usually thought of as supernatural and with it inevitably belief systems which involve more metaphysical spiritual matters. Which indeed, for a Christian, should be considered in terms with how well they sit with the Christian belief system.

And, yes, we can be affected by belief systems which might clash with our own. But at the same time, we live in this world and it is important to recognise challenges to a belief system can actually strengthen belief and faith in the re-examining of it.

I am not saying that seeing an osteopath is the same as seeing a psychic or a medium. I am saying that whatever involves ‘energies’ or ‘energy flow’ has to be approached with outmost caution. If you look into any form of homeopathic healing, in many cases, there are very strong connections to yoga, meditation and other spiritual practices. This is because there is seen to be a very clear connection between the mind, soul and body (which I agree with too).

I simply cannot understand how and why a cranial osteopath has to touch certain parts of the body, concentrate in silence and appear to do nothing whilst at the same time exerting some
kind of healing energy force. (My friend has sworn blind that she is now healed after being treated by her cranial osteopath).
What did he do to her body during those moments that is not cause or to the natura eye?
I’ve looked at pictures of cranial osteopaths doing their thing, and they tend to touch the head and stomach. These are areas in which we must be extremely careful not to allow anyone we don’t know we’ll enough to touch.

I am saying that whatever involves ‘energies’ or ‘energy flow’ has to be approached with outmost caution.

Why? What are the dangers?

That passage from 2 Cor is in the context of not being 'yolked to' (married to) an unbeliever.
Could also mean a Gentile, as per Peter in Acts 10, but he says 'But God has shown me I should not call anyone impure or unclean.'

I suppose, to play devil's advocate here, you could change the wording of your question thus:

'I simply cannot understand how and why a Christian praying for someone has to touch certain parts of the body, concentrate in silence and appear to do nothing whilst at the same time exerting some
kind of healing energy force. (My friend has sworn blind that she is now healed after being prayed for by some Christians).
What did they do to her body during those moments that is not cause or to the natura eye?
I’ve looked at pictures of Christians doing their thing, and they tend to touch the head and shoulders . These are areas in which we must be extremely careful not to allow anyone we don’t know we’ll enough to touch.'

Why is one good and the other 'dodgy'? (I'm not making any judgements either way here, and I'm very on the fence about spiritual warfare, just asking what the difference is between cranial osteopathy and what they do, and Christians praying for people).
I think I'd be a lot less suspicious of a cranial osteopath than I would of a bunch of Christians I didn't know wanting to pray for me.

@Libby98765, interesting but where do you draw the line? The Bible talks a lot about even words being 'spirit'. It's hard to avoid them without walking about with noise cancelling headphones and a blindfold!

I'm not saying you should not consider how a practice or therapy might affect you, personally, spiritually and concerning your own faith. However, how faith manifests and grows can be a very personal thing, as Romans 14 talks about at some length.

And thinking of it I have had radiotherapy and chemotherapy. I can say both affected my energy! Hopefully, not spiritually though! Or at least detrimentally! But both involve energy, one with radiation waves, the other chemicals.

I simply cannot understand how and why a cranial osteopath has to touch certain parts of the body, concentrate in silence and appear to do nothing whilst at the same time exerting some
kind of healing energy force. (My friend has sworn blind that she is now healed after being treated by her cranial osteopath).
What did he do to her body during those moments that is not cause or to the natura eye?

@Libby98765, is it because of your friend's experience you have re-activated this thread? What is causing you to worry about her?

I think it also depends on the individual who is doing the treatment and what they might be into on a personal level. They may practice osteopathy but personally be into spirituality with crystals and Reiki which I can totally understand why he wouldn't want them placing hands on him ( which is scriptural) because the bible view things from a spiritual perspective and not just the physical world what we see with our eyes. It's really about taking the time to understand his perspective rather than saying he's weird or whatever because if you actually research it, it makes total sense but it is from a spiritual perspective. If they are not filled with the holy spirit then what spirits do they let onto their lives? If they touch him he can be opening the door to them entering his life. He's actually correct.

Given the husband apparently had a change of heart twenty years ago I doubt it really matters anymore.