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Can healing be taught?
William F Bengston1, Donald G Murphy
1St. Joseph's College, Patchogue, NY, USA. wbengston@sjcny.edu
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
|May 10, 2008
Summary
Despite growing interest in healing practices, empirical evidence proving healing is teachable remains insufficient. Current research, including prior claims, has not met the rigorous criteria needed to demonstrate its teachability.
Area of Science:
- Integrative medicine
- Complementary therapies
- Parapsychology
Background:
- Significant increase in interest and educational opportunities for healing practices.
- Lack of robust empirical data to substantiate the teachability of healing.
- Previous claims of successful healing instruction require further validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the empirical evidence for the teachability of healing.
- To outline criteria for assessing the teachability of healing modalities.
- To discuss the scientific and social implications if healing is proven teachable.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of selected healing teaching modalities.
- Development and application of five empirical criteria for teachability.
- Critical assessment of existing research, including prior claims.
Main Results:
- Selected healing modalities and their underlying principles were examined.
- Five essential empirical criteria for demonstrating teachability were established.
- Existing research, despite previous assertions, has not met these criteria.
Conclusions:
- The teachability of healing is not yet empirically demonstrated.
- Further rigorous research is required to meet established scientific criteria.
- The implications of potentially teachable healing warrant continued scientific and social consideration.
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