Why Do We Need To Trust Non Allopathic Healers?- TMichael with Jesus
TM: Why do some healers ask us to take it on faith that they are competent?
MJ: Which healers are you referring to?
TM: I’m primarily referring to healers from the non-allopathic spectrum, but also include some M.D.s. Mostly I’m speaking of healers who use techniques that are non-verifiable.
MJ: The scientific realm of medicine is relatively new as reckoned by time of humanity’s place on earth. Most people today are horrified to hear of past practices administered by “medical” men; even within your lifetime some practices now seem brutish. Technology has changed medical practice immensely.
TM: It has in some ways I think. But you’re referring to allopathic medicine. What technology is there to advance non-allopathic techniques?
MJ: It depends on what you define as technology I suppose. There is technology that serves both methodologies. Why for instance would a device that measures blood pressure serve only allopathic medicine? It’s measuring a result. So, if a practitioner applying acupuncture to a patient to reduce blood pressure uses the same device to monitor his result as an M.D., then the device serves both methods.
TM: That’s true.
MJ: I think I know what you’re talking about though and I’ll go into that. You’re talking about people who profess to be healers, but don’t claim to produce results that can be objectively measured, but instead rely upon the testimony of the patient to report results. Those can prove to be unreliable at times. Do you think that happens too within the allopathic realm?
TM: It does. I think non-allopathic healing practices refer to non-physical causes to physical symptoms in presenting an illness. And allopathic care has focused on the physical realm almost exclusively. Measuring results tends to cover the physical symptoms and points to physical causes.
MJ: You’ve identified a major point of consideration: since the technology of measurement happens in an environment of allopathic care it tends to confirm the validity of the methodology that it serves and the underlying assumptions supporting its principles. Most non-allopathic practitioners don’t have access to MRI equipment or other expensive technology to support their practices. That means any results they achieve either go unnoticed, or rely upon the testimony of the patient, or must be used in conjunction with an allopathic practioner that does have access to the technology and can thus claim credit for the positive results.
TM: It seems you’re leaning towards support of the non-allopathic healers by saying that the decks are stacked against them, kind of a Rodney Dangerfield “get no respect” slant. What does this have to do with spirituality by the way? You must admit that this topic was prompted by you and I merely accepted it because I wonder about it from time to time.
MJ: I simply chose a topic that I know you’ve pondered for many years as a suggestion for us to have a conversation about it. Its connection to spirituality is a tricky question, because it presumes that some things are related to spirituality and some aren’t. Can you think of something that isn’t connected to spirit?
TM: Uh, not really, if I’m thinking as a spiritually inclined person. But I doubt an atheist would answer your question that way. Maybe they would say nothing is connected to spirit.
MJ: But you’re not an atheist by virtue of having this conversation with me, and perhaps this conversation and all the other ones in this series are for people who believe in a spiritual existence.
TM: I accept that.
MJ: You are quite argumentative at times without a genuine connection to the essence of the matter. Are you feeling conflicted about your own understanding of spirituality and whether or not you accept it as a truth to live by? Is that why you usually reject healing practices that claim to base physical symptoms on non-physical causes? And may I add that you don’t trust allopathic methods either, and so where does this leave you when you are ill?
TM: There is truth to your insinuation that I’m self-contradictory on this issue. And maybe you know what I want to talk about before I know. Yes, I tend to not trust most healing methodologies because of a combination of past experience and I’m predisposed with a suspicious nature. And finally you’re right that I’m conflicted on applying spirituality to human affairs, because I don’t see much proof of spirituality’s existence, or least I just don’t know what is or isn’t proof. But are most people that sure?
MJ: That’s a good question. With advances in scientific explanation for things, spirituality has taken a backseat in answering the questions posed in all areas of life. This was a necessary step in the evolution of humanity to separate the spiritual from superstitions. But I’ll suggest to you now that science will gradually learn to measure phenomena beyond the physical or material and then there will be a convergence of sorts. This is already happening within the field of physics and subatomic properties, as well as the nature of energy. Superstitions can be expelled by science, and this is good. Spirituality cannot be expelled nor disproved; but also it can’t be proven. There will come a day when this will be much clearer.
TM: I think your last statement is the one that causes me the greatest concern—it’s always in the “future” for spiritual realities. Why can we send spacecraft beyond our solar system, but we can’t prove the existence of the soul?
MJ: Your question serves two different issues. If the scientific community wanted to apply the same resources to proving the existence of the soul as they do to space travel, then the proof would be available. Until proof of the soul serves an economic end it won’t happen. Or I can say it another way—until humanity has exhausted it’s curiosity of the material realm to such a degree that spiritual understandings become more important, then we will have the disparity you see now. We’ve had this discussion many times and it hasn’t resolved for you. You’re concern is targeted to the spiritual realm and why we haven’t produced more proof for humanity. You can understand that it is humanity’s will to provide this proof to its own satisfaction as has been done with scientific inquiries.
TM: You’re right, I do blame the spiritual realm for not driving the point more assertively. I forget that humanity has to do it and I deflect my frustration onto the spiritual realm. In fairness, the spiritual realm has given humanity plenty of direction and we tend to bog down in religious dogma. I think I’ve strayed from my opening question, but appreciate the way you guide the conversation around to what really is at the root of it.
MJ: You often know the answers to questions you ask. It’s a matter of helping you see that. Make no mistake there are fraudulent practitioners within the populations of allopathic and non-allopathic healers, and they only serve to undermine perception of competency and trust. There are many who do good and effective work. We’ve witnessed a convergence of healers from both camps who can appreciate the value of both methodologies and work together to produce positive results. It is through that collaboration that we will see better application of measurement that shows the efficacy of both methods.
Later when I asked some friends if they had seen the film I learned of the swirling debate. I jumped online and discovered more commentary than I had imagined. Then I attended a panel discussion hosted by Tikkun magazine that featured an array of Christian and Jewish clergy.