664: Reiki Healing | Skeptical Sunday

Origins

Reiki, often touted as an ancient healing method, actually originated in the 20th century. David C. Smalley explains that it was created by Mikao Usui, a Buddhist monk who claimed to have a vision about healing people with energy after fasting for 21 days 1. Despite its modern origins, Reiki has gained popularity, with practitioners claiming to channel divine energy to heal others. Jordan Harbinger and David discuss the skepticism surrounding this practice, emphasizing the need to debunk such pseudoscientific methods 2.

Reiki therapy is based on this idea of transferring their God-derived energy into a willing human.

--- David C. Smalley

   

Hospitals

Reiki's presence in hospitals is surprisingly widespread, with over 800 hospitals globally offering it, including prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic 3. David highlights the irony of such acceptance despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting Reiki's efficacy. Even the Catholic Church has criticized Reiki, stating it lacks scientific credibility and poses potential spiritual risks 4.

Reiki finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief.

--- Catholic Church Study

   

Certification

Becoming a certified Reiki practitioner is alarmingly easy and often involves minimal training. Certification can be obtained online for as little as $25 and a few hours of one's time 5. David and Jordan discuss the exploitative nature of this certification process, likening it to a pyramid scheme where practitioners can charge exorbitant fees for dubious courses 6.

You can be a certified Reiki practitioner for $26 and six hours of your time.

--- David C. Smalley