Freethought & Rationalism Archive

-RRH- · 03-18-2002, 11:55 PM

I received an e-mail from someone equating the "chi" with electromagnetic fields. I have passing knowledge of Feng Shui, and I do not think this makes sense. For one, I do not recall enough emphasis on the magnetic properties of an object, which I would expect, should chi and electromagnetic fields be equivalent. Can anyone more familiar with Feng Shui give a more in-depth rebuttal?

Quote:

Although it is an ancient art, Feng Shui
is built on sound scientific
principles supported by modern physics and the understanding of energy.
The Earth and all living things emit energy. This has been known for
thousands of years by the Chinese but has only recently been validated
by new discoveries in the field of quantum physics. This energy is known
as chi to the Chinese and electromagnetic energy to scientists. Feng
Shui is an ancient system devised to study and change the effects this
electromagnetism has on our daily lives. Knowledge of this energy allows
us to orientate our surroundings to be in harmony with the
electromagnetic field of the earth. The blood inside our bodies contains
iron, which as a metal is affected by magnetic fields. If the magnetic
fields inside a building are compatible with our own, the environment
will have positive effects on our health, concentration, relationships
and financial success. If the magnetic fields are incompatible, the
effects will be negative.

liquid · 03-19-2002, 07:46 AM

This is one of those things that is so monumentally stupid, you don't even know where to start chipping away at it. If I was to write a complete rebuttal, it would basically mean writing everything I know about electromagnetics(as an engineer and physicist) and telling you that feng shui is not it!

Energy is not some vague term. We can quite clearly identify it, and its various forms, including thermal, kinetic, potential and yes, electromagnetic. Simply put, chi practitioners have no idea what they are talking about when they abuse the concept, not just in a scientific sense, but also in a pseudoscientific sense. Note that they are never specific about this 'energy' or any of its interactions.

And because they are so nebulous, it is difficult to be specific when rebutting their scientific claims because they don't make any!

Perhaps if you were to pin down some more specific claims and statements, it'd be simplicity itself to rip them apart.

The only claim of any substance is

Quote:

If the magnetic fields inside a building are compatible with our own, the environment will have positive effects on our health, concentration, relationships and financial success. If the magnetic fields are incompatible, the effects will be negative.

The main field we are subjected to is that of the earth, and at different points of the earth, the field vectors are in different orientations. Using a massive sample size of some 6bn people, its quite clear that there is no correlation between the orientation of the magnetic field and any of the characteristics noted above.

It's just a big pile of BS.

YHWH666 · 03-20-2002, 02:59 PM

bwahahahahahahahhahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

i spit beer all over the screen again! you gotta love these new-agers! they are amongst the more comical theists. almost as funny as the fundies~

Viti · 03-20-2002, 03:06 PM

I remember my brief foray into New Age...shit I couldn't keep up with it! Chakras, spirit guides, divination, reiki, feng shui, healing touch, white light, NDE, OBE, psychic vampires, dream interpretation yada yada yada...I am an atheist probably cuz I was just tired!

Corwin · 03-20-2002, 03:36 PM

*shrugs*

Watch an Aikido demonstration sometime...

We can't fully explain gravity either... but it's there. The lack of explanation is cause for further study, not brushing off the entire thing.

Viti · 03-20-2002, 03:59 PM

Corwin, I think there is quite a bit in this world that is not explainable (some Martial arts as you said seem to require further study, as does chiropractic and other alternative medicines)...but that's enough to keep me busy without making up silliness like thinking placement of chairs can affect my health.

Corwin · 03-20-2002, 04:01 PM

True.... but bear in mind that a lot of feng shui actually works. Nothing mystical about it at all... a lot of it is just 'good design.' (Keeping different rooms for different parts of your life separate... etc...)

The mystical parts are very much open to question.... other parts? No more mystical than Frank Lloyd Wright.

03-20-2002, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Corwin:
<strong>*shrugs*

Watch an Aikido demonstration sometime...

.</strong>

Or look at the halo of a saint.

Paul Case · 03-20-2002, 04:51 PM

Feng Shui: a practice in which a new age practitioner re-arranges the contents of your wallet.

MadMordigan · 03-20-2002, 05:53 PM

Watch an Aikido demonstration sometime...

Ahh, so thats how they do it. They beat people up with magnets.

<img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

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03-20-2002, 02:59 PM	#3
YHWH666 Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North America Posts: 457	bwahahahahahahahhahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! i spit beer all over the screen again! you gotta love these new-agers! they are amongst the more comical theists. almost as funny as the fundies~

03-20-2002, 03:06 PM	#4
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	I remember my brief foray into New Age...shit I couldn't keep up with it! Chakras, spirit guides, divination, reiki, feng shui, healing touch, white light, NDE, OBE, psychic vampires, dream interpretation yada yada yada...I am an atheist probably cuz I was just tired!

03-20-2002, 03:36 PM	#5
Corwin Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,369	shrugs Watch an Aikido demonstration sometime... We can't fully explain gravity either... but it's there. The lack of explanation is cause for further study, not brushing off the entire thing.

03-20-2002, 03:59 PM	#6
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	Corwin, I think there is quite a bit in this world that is not explainable (some Martial arts as you said seem to require further study, as does chiropractic and other alternative medicines)...but that's enough to keep me busy without making up silliness like thinking placement of chairs can affect my health.

03-20-2002, 04:01 PM	#7
Corwin Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,369	True.... but bear in mind that a lot of feng shui actually works. Nothing mystical about it at all... a lot of it is just 'good design.' (Keeping different rooms for different parts of your life separate... etc...) The mystical parts are very much open to question.... other parts? No more mystical than Frank Lloyd Wright.

03-20-2002, 04:51 PM	#9
Paul Case Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Seallte, Wa. U.S. Posts: 23	Feng Shui: a practice in which a new age practitioner re-arranges the contents of your wallet.

03-20-2002, 05:53 PM	#10
MadMordigan Beloved Deceased Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 2,704	Watch an Aikido demonstration sometime... Ahh, so thats how they do it. They beat people up with magnets. <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

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