Is Reiki compatible with Christianity?

In response to questions concerning the validity of Reiki as an alternative therapy, the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Doctrine issued a statement, Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy.

The following is a summary of the bishops’ document to help leaders in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal respond to questions that continue to arise concerning Reiki. For the full transcript, go to the USCCB website.

 

Healing by Divine Grace and Healing by Natural Power

Jesus Christ performed many physical healings and through the Holy Spirit gave the charism of healing to his Church throughout the ages. Divine healing can come through the sacraments, through sacramentals, or through simple prayers for healing.

The Catholic Church also has a long history in caring for the sick, founding hospitals and institutions that use natural means of healing together with prayer and trust in God from whom all healing comes (see Sirach 38:1-8). The fact that it is possible to be healed by divine power does not mean that we should not use natural means that are available to us.

Reiki and Healing

Reiki is a technique that was developed in Japan in the late 1800s by Mikao Usui who was studying Buddhist texts. Reiki teaching states that illness is caused by a disruption or imbalance in one’s “life energy”. To effect healing the Reiki practitioner places his hands in various positions on the human body to facilitate the flow of this universal life energy. Various ceremonies using “sacred symbols” accompany the initiation of a Reiki practitioner.

There are those who claim that Reiki is not a religion but simply a technique that can be used by people from various religious traditions. Literature on Reiki, however, often describes it as spiritual healing and makes references to God, the Goddess, the “divine healing power” and the “divine mind.” Reiki is also described as a “way of living”, with five specific ethical precepts to be followed.

There are some Reiki proponents, primarily nurses, who would have us accept Reiki as a natural means of healing. But this would then require Reiki to meet the standards of natural science. Reiki fails to meet these standards and lacks any scientific credibility. Some people have attempted to identify Reiki with the divine healing known to Christians, but they are mistaken. There is only one source of divine healing, Jesus Christ, and it is to him alone that we address our prayers for healing. Mary and the saints intercede, but all healing comes from God. To simply add the name of Jesus Christ when using Reiki does not alter the essential nature of Reiki, which is not a prayer but a technique that is passed down from the “Reiki Master” to the pupil and is supposed to reliably produce the anticipated results. Neither Scripture nor Christian tradition speaks of the natural world as based on “universal

life energy” that is subject to manipulation by human beings. This worldview, in fact, is pantheistic in character (Pantheism is the view that nature itself is god. Therefore this rock is god, you are god, the earth is god, etc.).

 

Conclusion

For a Catholic to believe in Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems. To employ a technique that has no scientific support, or even plausibility, in caring for one’s health or the health of others is imprudent.

Reiki also puts one’s spiritual health in danger. A Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition. Sadly some through ignorance have used these techniques without understanding their implications. It is the responsibility of all Catholic teachers and those in leadership or authority in the Church to clearly understand the dangers of Reiki and to teach accordingly and in union with the magisterium.

The bishops conclude with a strong and clear statement to all Catholic institutions, retreat centers and Catholic chaplains that Reiki techniques are totally incompatible with Catholic teaching and are therefore not to be promoted or to be supported.