Dowsing and Water Dowsing
| By: Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. John Weldon; ©2000 |
| Dowsing is commonly practiced, even by professing Christians. What are the dangers inherent in this practice? |
Dowsing and Water Dowsing
INFO AT A GLANCE
Description. Dowsing is a practice employing divinatory implements and methods in order to search out information, such as a site of water, the nature or location of disease and its proper treatment, lost objects, or missing persons.*
Founder. Unknown; the practice is ancient.
How does it claim to work? Dowsing claims to work through a practitioner’s supposedly natural sensitivity to nature’s geomagnetic phenomena, “water radiations,” or by some allegedly unconscious “motor ability” operating in an unknown manner.
Scientific evaluation. Controlled testing has not confirmed dowsing powers scientifically.
Examples of occult potential. The development of altered states of consciousness, psychic powers, or spirit contact are almost always possible.
Major problem. Dowsing is not the natural human ability many assume; it is a spiritistic power.
Biblical/Christian evaluation. Dowsing is rejected by description (Hosea 4:12) and by nature, i.e., divination (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
Potential dangers. Financial loss and other deception through dowsing failures; health risks through improper medical diagnosis or treatment; occult influences.
- Technically, dowsing is a type of radiasthesia and, by extension, a form of psychometry.
