Latest news with #EdgarCayce
The Mainichi
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Mainichi
Japan university under fire for offering courses in pseudoscientific 'healing therapies'
TOKYO -- Speaking positively to water creates beautiful ice crystals; sugar pellets infused with highly diluted minerals and other substances can heal disease: These are typical claims associated with controversial "hado" vibrational healing and homeopathy, respectively. Despite scientific-sounding descriptions, experts have long identified such methods as pseudoscience -- practices lacking scientific credibility, evidence or the capability for rigorous testing and validation. Yet, at Kanagawa Dental University's graduate school in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, such questionable therapies feature prominently in the syllabus of an integrative medicine course for working adult students, attended by individuals who already hold national medical credentials such as doctors and nurses. Lecturers include representatives and senior leaders brought from organizations promoting these methods. Academic experts warn that the situation carries substantial risks. "The fact that a university offers such courses could grant pseudoscience and its promoting bodies undeserved legitimacy, potentially misleading more people," cautioned one scholar. Moreover, university sources indicate the courses themselves are not actually funded or run by Kanagawa Dental University. Methods rejected by Japan's Science Council The course in question began in academic 2022 on the top floor of a five-story building near JR Takanawa Gateway Station in Tokyo's Minato Ward. The tuition fee for the one-year course is 1.2 million yen (around $8,300). This year's lectures -- totaling around 180 hours -- cover more than 30 controversial self-proclaimed therapies. Hado once sparked controversy when it was adopted into elementary school moral education classes, criticized as pseudoscience creeping into classrooms. Homeopathy was formally rejected by a 2010 statement from the Science Council of Japan, explicitly denying its therapeutic effectiveness. The university's syllabus even covers "Edgar Cayce therapy," which is claimed to have been started by a psychic with clairvoyant abilities. According to people involved, the course was originally proposed to the university by Akira Kawashima, a medical doctor frequently appearing on television. When contacted, Kanagawa Dental University representatives replied that "Kawashima will respond directly." Kawashima himself commented, "Integrative medicine includes the good and the bad alike. It's essential to train medical professionals, after mastering Western medicine, to get accurate insights into various techniques so that, when patients ask about them, they're able to distinguish legitimate treatments from fraudulent ones." Who manages the university course? Although billed as a university offering, the course is actually funded and administered by a general incorporated association through a service contract with the university. The association's head is a doctor who runs a psychosomatic internal medicine clinic in Tokyo. She promotes procedures involving "hand power healing," claiming on her own website: "Invisible energy definitely exists," adding that "the delicate energy changes in body and mind can be perceived and rebalanced through one's palms." Responding to inquiries, the doctor acknowledged her organization's role in operating the course. She explained that the company initially tasked with administrative duties withdrew, prompting Kawashima to ask her to take over. Last December, she organized a public lecture featuring a leading representative of an Edgar Cayce promotion group at the same Tokyo building. Flyers advertising the event prominently mentioned her group's role managing the university-related courses. Experts convey concern Attempts to introduce unscientific concepts such as hado, the "gaming brain" theory and EM (effective microorganism) bacteria into educational settings have previously caused public concern. However, experts pointed out that cases of universities proactively teaching these pseudosciences in a positive light have been extremely rare. Professor Masato Ishikawa of Meiji University, an expert in cognitive science, explained, "There are scenarios where universities teach pseudoscience -- for example, studying 'witches' from a cultural or anthropological perspective. But actual proponents presenting lectures cannot respond to scientific criticism." In 2014, Meiji University planned a course for the general public featuring promoters of pseudoscience like hado and EM bacteria, but canceled it due to faculty opposition. Professor Ishikawa further warned of the risks posed because students already have medical qualifications. "Course participants pay fees and receive official certificates of completion. Thus, it raises the likelihood they'll offer these practices themselves," he said, expressing concern about an increase in medical clinics providing treatments lacking scientific validity. Comments from the education ministry Upon completion of the one-year program, participants receive official certificates issued under the School Education Act. A representative from the education ministry's university promotion division, which manages the law in question, stated, "Ultimately, universities hold full responsibility for the content of their certified programs." However, regarding dubious therapies suspected as pseudoscience being taught within the courses, the ministry representative explained, "We, as an administrative body, are not in a position to determine if particular course contents qualify as pseudoscience." Professor Satoru Kikuchi, a psychologist at Shinshu University who is knowledgeable about pseudoscience, criticized what he sees as the universities' irresponsibility: "It seems universities play down the responsibility involved in teaching positively about therapies without a scientific basis." Kikuchi further argued that the education ministry's approach is problematic as well, declaring, "Entrusting universities alone to check their course content mimics the situation with the functional food labeling system -- where responsibility for confirming the safety and efficacy of functional foods was pushed onto private industry, resulting in health problems. It's essentially equivalent to the ministry abandoning its supervisory responsibilities."
Time of India
15-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
4 lesser-known prophets in the history whose chilling predictions came true
4 lesser-known prophets in the history whose chilling predictions came true Throughout history, the world has been captivated by seers and prophets who claim to have glimpsed the future. While figures like Nostradamus and Baba Vanga dominate popular culture with their often cryptic and chilling forecasts, there are lesser-known visionaries whose predictions have proven remarkably accurate. These individuals may not have reached the same legendary status, but their foresight has left an indelible mark on history. Here you can read out to explore the lives and predictions of four such prophets, whose visions included economic crashes, global conflicts, natural disasters, and political assassinations, often with startling accuracy. 4 prophets who predicted the future and weren't wrong 1. Edgar Cayce – The Sleeping Prophet Early life and discovery of his abilities Born in 1877 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Edgar Cayce displayed unusual psychic abilities from a young age. According to legend, his journey into the paranormal began in 1889 when, as a young boy, he fell asleep with his head resting on a textbook. Upon waking, he could recall the book's contents perfectly, as if they had been absorbed through some form of psychic osmosis. This remarkable incident set the stage for his future as one of America's most famous clairvoyants. Rise to fame as a medical clairvoyant Cayce became known as the "Sleeping Prophet" because of his unique method of delivering prophecies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo He would enter a self-induced trance, during which he provided health diagnoses and spiritual guidance, often with startling precision. In 1931, Cayce founded the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to support his work and promote spiritual and holistic healing. The organization remains active to this day, preserving thousands of his recorded readings. Notable predictions Stock market crash of 1929 : Six months before the catastrophic Wall Street crash that triggered the Great Depression, Cayce reportedly warned of a "great disturbance in financial circles" that would lead to widespread economic turmoil. World War II : In 1935, he foresaw the rise of the Axis powers, predicting that "Austrians, Germans, and later the Japanese" would unite in their influence, leading to a devastating global conflict. US Presidential deaths : Cayce is also said to have predicted the untimely deaths of two US presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, though these claims remain less substantiated. Legacy and criticisms Despite his remarkable accuracy in some areas, not all of Cayce's predictions proved correct. For instance, he claimed that China would become "the cradle of Christianity" and that Russia would emerge as "the hope of the world" – visions that remain unfulfilled. Nevertheless, his influence on New Age spirituality and alternative medicine remains profound. 2. Jeane Dixon – The Astrologer Who Warned JFK Early life and rise to fame Jeane Dixon, born in 1904 in Wisconsin, became one of America's most well-known psychics and astrologers in the mid-20th century. She claimed that her abilities first emerged when a mysterious fortune teller gifted her a crystal ball during her childhood, predicting that she would become a famous seer. Eerily accurate predictions John F. Kennedy assassination : Perhaps her most famous prophecy came in 1956 when she published a prediction that a Democrat would win the 1960 US presidential election and "be assassinated or die in office." This chilling forecast came to pass with the tragic assassination of JFK in 1963. AIDS epidemic : In 1978, Dixon warned of "a dreadful plague" that would strike down thousands, a statement later linked to the outbreak of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Exxon Valdez disaster : In 1989, she reportedly foresaw a major shipping accident in the spring, shortly before the Exxon Valdez oil spill devastated the Alaskan coastline. Influence on US Presidents Dixon's prophecies gained her a unique position of influence. US President Richard Nixon, deeply fascinated by her predictions, reportedly sought her advice on several occasions. In fact, her warnings about a rise in global terrorism prompted Nixon to instruct Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to form a counterterrorism task force. Mixed record of accuracy Despite her successes, Dixon also made numerous inaccurate predictions, including the claim that Russia would beat the United States to the Moon and that World War III would break out in 1958. Still, her legacy as a pop culture phenomenon and a spiritual advisor remains significant. 3. Marie Anne Lenormand – The Fortune Teller of the French Revolution Origins and rise to fame Marie Anne Lenormand was born in 1772 in Alençon, France, and went on to become one of the most famous cartomancers in European history. Known as the "Nostradamus of the Napoleonic era," she read fortunes for some of the most influential figures of her time. Remarkable predictions Napoleon and Josephine : Lenormand reportedly foresaw the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte and his marriage to Josephine long before they met. According to accounts, she predicted that Josephine would marry a "new Hercules" who would achieve great power, a prophecy immortalized in the writings of Alexandre Dumas. French revolution figures : She also provided political guidance to revolutionary leaders like Robespierre and Danton, enhancing her reputation as a powerful and influential mystic. Legacy in cartomancy Lenormand's name remains synonymous with fortune telling, particularly through the popular Lenormand card decks still used by psychics today. 4. Gin Chow – The Chinese-American Seer of California From immigrant laborer to weather prophet Gin Chow, a Chinese immigrant who settled in California in the late 19th century, is remembered for his startlingly accurate weather predictions. Known as the "Wizard of Lompoc," Chow made headlines in 1925 for allegedly predicting an earthquake in Santa Barbara that struck on June 29 of that year. Other notable predictions World War II : Chow is said to have warned that the United States would go to war with Japan nearly a decade before the attack on Pearl Harbor. His own death : Chow reportedly predicted the year of his own death, 1933, adding to his reputation as a formidable seer. Legacy and impact Although skeptics have questioned the accuracy of some of Chow's predictions, his legacy as a mystical figure in California folklore remains intact. Also read | What does your zodiac say about your destiny? Find out of you are a soldier, poet, or king Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
