AB writes: “We have a priest filling in for our normal parish priest who is on retreat and this priest gave a Parish Mission teaching New Age prayer. Is it New Age to call the Holy Spirit an energy force?”
Author Archives: Susan Brinkmann
Can Catholics Use Herbal Medicines?
KJ writes: “Dear friends of our family who are devout Catholics have become so disgusted with Big Pharma that they are turning to herbal medicine almost exclusively. In addition to how these natural remedies might be impacting them physically, what about their spiritual health? Isn’t this just a bunch of superstition?”
The Link Between Essential Oils and Witchcraft: What’s the Big Deal?
SL writes: “So many of my friends are turned off to essential oils because of their link to witchcraft. I just don’t understand why it matters that witches use the same oils. What difference does that make?”
What’s Wrong with Wearing Occult or Native American Symbols?
JE asks: “Would you consider the presence of a Dream Catcher an open door to the occult? I’ve never been comfortable with their use for children . . . I have a necklace & earring set of Dreamcatchers sitting in my jewelry box. . . . (A)fter reading about some of your other posts about jewelry I’ve been thinking that in addition to pitching the “Mary Poppins” book set I never got around to reading, I should pitch the Dream Catcher jewelry as well. Could you maybe tell us a little more about what to look out for in jewelry? Or would that be a whole ‘nother Learn to Discern book?”
What Happened to Alex and Ani?
Only a few years ago, Alex and Ani bracelets were a sought after fashion statement produced by a tiny company that grew from relative obscurity into a shining star of entrepreneurial success. This same company, whose owner bragged about relying on bizarre New Age practices to guide her, is now barely mentioned. What happened?
The Dark Side of Meditation Apps
According to a recent podcast by Dr. Willoughby Britton, the world’s leading authority on the negative effects of meditation, users of popular meditation apps are reporting problems ranging from psychological issues to being introduced to religious practices without being duly informed.
What’s Wrong with Muscle Testing?
One of our readers wrote to us and described a strange procedure her chiropractor performed during her visit.
Beware of Strange “Healers”
AE writes about a “chiropractor” that she and her father have been seeing in California, a suspected illegal immigrant using the name Javier Lozano. They know little about the man except that he is married, goes to Mass weekly, works as a plumber during the day, and will accept only donations for his services. I will let AE describe what this “healer” does when she visits him.
Magic, Murder, and the Pennsylvania Dutch Pow Wow
(Nicholas Tonelli, Wikicommons, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en)
CA writes: “I recently heard about a practice called Pow Wowing by the Pennsylvania Dutch. I am sure it is a bad idea. Would you post about this practice? There was a true murder story I saw on Prime Video called “Hex Hollow”. Someone was killed because they were thought to have put a hex on someone. The practice was called PowWow. I never heard of such a thing. Of course, they interviewed someone who claimed it was just a bunch of prayers, but I know it isn’t.”
Fr. Ron Rolheiser
BW writes: Please do an article on Fr. Rolheiser, especially regarding his Holy Longing book. If you haven’t read it, please do, I’m begging. He is so widespread and I see much that discomforts me in his writings.”
