Try the Chaplet of Mercy Instead of the “Mad Russian” to Quit Bad Habits

CL writes: “A couple of people I know are considering a session with a gentleman (Yefim Shubentsov) known as the ‘Mad Russian’ (hypnotist?) in Brookline, MA to help quit smoking (bioenergetics?).  I wanted to know how this stands in the eyes of the Catholic Church.”

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Offering Polarity Therapy in a Parish Setting is a Bad Idea

CH writes: “My question is about an energy therapy called ‘Polarity Therapy’. Polarity Therapy is being done at the Catholic Church of my friend. I assumed that it was an OK therapy for Catholics because the Catholic Priest in charge of the Church and Nuns allow it and have  treatments. I have doubts that it is an approved Catholic therapy.”

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There May Be No Scientific Proof that “Chi” Exists, but There’s No Proof of God’s Existence Either. What’s the Difference?

PC writes: “It is said many times on your blog that there is no scientific proof of “energy.” It can be argued that there is no scientific evidence of God either. How do we as Catholics share the potential dangers of energy practitioners with loved ones?”

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PowerBalance Wrist Bands Ordered to Retract Spurious Claims

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration has ordered the distributors of PowerBalance wrist bands to publish a retraction of their ads which make bogus claims that the bands have a therapeutic effect upon the body such as to improve strength, balance, flexibility, because there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.

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Woman Reports Bizarre Side Effects After Wearing New Age Energy Pendant

LW wrote to us months ago to inquire about a New Age gimmick known as a Scalar Energy Pendant that she bought from “devout Catholic ladies” during a recent pilgrimage. The pendant alleges protects the wearer from electromagnetic radiation emitting from things like cell phones and computers.Shortly after she began wearing it, she began to experience restlessness, weepiness and anxiety. But things apparently got much worse. I’ll let her explain the rest in her own words.

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Questions Still Surround Tucson’s Rambling Native American Blessing

I must admit, it struck me as downright shocking that a memorial service held at a public university for the Judeo-Christian victims of the Tucson massacre would offer a pantheistic pagan blessing by a Native American rather than a blessing from a representative of the faiths of the victims. This becomes even more perplexing when you consider that the Yacqi Indian who gave the blessing is Catholic.

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Dr. Mehmet Oz’s Connections to Reiki and Swedenborgian Cult

Anyone who has ever read Dr. Mehmet Oz’s books can tell you they are packed with very useful medical information – along with endorsements of New Age energy medicine, yoga and tai chi. As a matter of fact, this is why I stopped buying his books  – because I’m interested in his medical knowledge, not his religion, and unfortunately, I can’t seem to get one without the other.

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The Migun Jade Thermal Massage Bed Scam

JW writes: “I have a Migun Jade Thermal Massage Bed. The heat that is generated from the helium heated bulbs will penetrate deep into the muscular levels of the body and relieves tension, etc.  I am wondering if this is another form of New Age. I definitely have seen benefits from this massage.”

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