Questions about….

Many questions have been raised about particular ideas and belief systems whose practical outcomes have implications for human quality of life and human rights, long term sustainable development and the safeguarding of human life support systems for future generations.  The purpose of this section of the web site is to raise questions about these ideas and beliefs in relation to the values which FIOH seeks to encourage and promote.  Questions will also be raised about the whether these ideas and beliefs are rational using commonly accepted verification methods.
Questions about spiritual beliefs are raised only in so far as they inform practical activities and outcomes.

The following critiques have been prepared by Michael Thomas, who is acting coordinator for the Future in Our Hands International Network .

1. Questions about Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophy
The first of these questioning sections relates to the practical outcomes of the ideas of Austrian philosopher and occultist, Rudolf Steiner, and the movement/religion he founded which he named ‘anthroposophy’.

2. Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a system based on the principle that a much diluted preparation of a substance that causes symptoms in healthy individuals can cure disease that causes the same symptoms in a sick person.  It was developed in the late 1700s by a German doctor named Samuel Hahnemann as an alternative to the then pre-scientific conventional medicine of the day such as bloodletting, and other practices designed to balance the body’s four “humours” which were thought to be: phlegm; blood; yellow bile; and black bile.
His disillusionment with the severe treatments being used at the time, was well founded.  Despite never being accepted by the medical community, it is perhaps not surprising that it became more popular when the barbaric practices of the medical profession of his day included the use of arsenic, mercury, lead and blood sucking leaches.  The remedies were often worse than the illnesses they were supposed to cure!
However, does homeopathy have any medical benefits other than to perhaps act as placebos?


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