Many alternative health care professionals, like chiropractors, make every effort to create an atmosphere of peace and calm for their patients. Healing seldom, if ever, can occur amidst chaos. Even though we, humans, may not be aware of it, just like many animals, we since an atmosphere and know that we either feel safe in it or we don’t. For many years now, in my chiropractic clinic, my patients walk into a space of quiet, meditative music, and the gentle, welcoming fragrance of lavender.
For centuries, churches, synagogues, and mosques have, by their very nature, been sanctuaries of peace where those who entered felt a calm, healing, safe presence that quieted the mind and relaxed the body. So, I find it interesting that many churches nowadays are being forced to close, and that, in fact, far more churches are closing than opening.
Father Daniel Berniquez, episcopal vicar of the French sector of the Ottawa archdiocese, says churches that once drew 400 to 500 people now attract about 40. “Fifty years ago, most people went to church.” They say that across Canada, the U.S., and Europe changing demographics, “shifting values and growing secularism” are taking a toll. In a British report published two years ago, an independent organization called Christian Research said thousands of churches are closing for lack of practicing Christians.
Are people really becoming less religious or are churches actually becoming environmentally less “holy”? It certainly seems that in the past few years churches have become bully pulpits for raging and divisive political views. Politicians seek out church congregations to gather support for often prejudiced and hateful views. Ministers rail against prevailing governmental politics and political candidates, and their congregations shout, fists raised in the air, in support as if vitriolic separatism was “natural” in place that professes to be in brotherhood with the Prince of Peace. Bombs exploded in mosques where Allah is worshiped. In fact, the number of Muslims who go to mosque for prayer vary, but according to Ottawa demographer Daood Hamdani, 15% of adult Muslims in the Ottawa region attend mosque every week. Youth attendance is lower.
“There has to be an examination of conscience to see if the church is doing something wrong. A tremendous amount of flexibility in responding to changing circumstances is required,” says Christophe Potworowski, the Kennedy Smith chair of Catholic studies at McGill University. Potworowski suggests that people haven’t given up on faith, but are rejecting “organized religion.”
Perhaps many are discovering that they must create their own “spaces of peace” internally, and that they need to seek out external places other than religious structures, where they can (re)discover an atmosphere of spiritual sanctity. The traditional structures, unfortunately, can no longer be depended upon to “keep the peace.”
As a chiropractor who has been practicing the beautifully natural “art and science” of