{"id":4229,"date":"2025-03-11T08:02:58","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T12:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/?p=4229"},"modified":"2025-03-24T00:00:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T04:00:06","slug":"public-response-barefoot-walking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/blog\/public-response-barefoot-walking\/","title":{"rendered":"A Public Response to “Grounding is a New Age Idea.” Part 2. – Focus on Barefoot Walking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you missed the first part of this article, please find it here<\/a>. Today we will look at a very basic history and science of Barefoot Walking, how it helps with natural healing and the dangers of mixing science with “spirituality.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Simple History of Barefoot Walking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"person<\/figure>
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As with any health idea I have mentioned in the past, between seeing my own health transformed into one of energy and vitality (as well as watching the health of thousands of others transformed) AND studying the science behind it to understand why something this simple can have such a profound effect on our health, I am again and again awed at God\u2019s infinite wisdom so far beyond our understanding.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Just like being outside at sunrise and all throughout the day has been a normal habit for humans since the beginning of creation until the modern era, barefoot walking is just the same. People went barefoot (or in leather thongs or shoes) for thousands of years and thought nothing of it\u2026that is, until the health crisis in more recent years, particularly in the States. Everyone was getting sick with some sort of cellular dysfunction or inflammatory disease! What was going on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t until Clint Ober, an everyday man with a background in communications, had a random thought one day when he saw several people getting off a bus all in white sneakers. He wondered if the invention of rubber soled shoes in the 1960\u2019s was having an effect on our health. You see, he understood in his line of work how everything had to be \u201cgrounded\u201d to prevent hazards in homes, workplaces, telephone wires, etc. EVERYTHING had to be grounded. And whenever there was static electricity or something wasn\u2019t working right, he says the answer was always \u201cmore grounding.\u201d Homes were grounded, TV\u2019s were grounded, computers were grounded\u2026and up until just a couple decades before, humans were also \u201cgrounded.\u201d Could being separated from the ground by a pair of rubber sneakers be affecting our health?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He began doing research. After doing all kinds of experiments on himself, he went to some well-known colleges like UCLA to see if he could get some bigger names on this discovery, but according to those \u201cfinely educated and wise people,\u201d there was NO WAY his discoveries had any sort of validity. They thought he was a quack. Finally, some students helped him put together a study that he could do on his own. With their assistance, he put together a study with 60 people, and after the astounding results, realized that this was no placebo effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After this first study, his discoveries began to gain traction, and several scientists and doctors got on board for his next study. This was finally going somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their discoveries are fascinating! And since then, many more have been done. Click here<\/a> to read the studies on earthing benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The {Very} Simple Science of Barefoot Walking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Every living thing is made up of cells, from the trees all around us to the ground we walk on, to the animals we love and even to the human body we each live in. As you dig deep into the recesses of your memory, you may remember learning in school that every cell is made up of atoms, and that the three building blocks of atoms are electrons, protons, and neutrons. Therefore, all humans are a walking home to trillions of those three building blocks.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"persons<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different aspects of our modern lifestyle can cause these basic building blocks to become unbalanced which in turn leads to cellular dysfunction and eventually cellular disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as Clint Ober discovered, just as grounding a home to the earth eliminates static and hazards to that home, grounding a body to the earth (which simply means touching the earth with foot or hand or any part of the body) balances the basic building blocks of the atoms our bodies are made of\u2014which in turn balances the cells. As the cells balance in the body, the cellular dysfunction begins to disappear, and the body is able to heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although mainstream medicine rarely promotes or acknowledges this idea, and half the world believes it’s pseudoscience, barefoot walking studies<\/a> have shown improvement in inflammation, sleep, blood flow and overall natural healing. In fact, scans even show changes in the body within minutes grounding by simply touching the ground!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Clint Ober says, the best research is your own research. No background knowledge is needed. Just go outside and enjoy a walk on the beach barefoot or water your garden in your bare feet each morning. Over time, you may notice that you are sleeping better or just feeling better in general, especially when you pair this with getting sunlight and eating whole foods among other grounding techniques for healing through nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Science Merges with “Spirituality”<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A HUGE problem arises when people take the simple science and begin to mix it with religion and spiritualism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancient people groups such as the Greeks, Egyptians and Hindus, who didn\u2019t even understand the science at that time, discovered how \u201cgood they felt\u201d when they were \u201cgrounded to the earth,\u201d and as the Bible says would happen, they began worshipping the earth. They began teaching their followers about a \u201cdivine energy\u201d\u2014a life-giving creative force that is a power that exists within everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"bokeh<\/figure>
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You can see where this is going. Today, this same ancient idea of \u201cdivine energy\u201d is often referred to as the Divine Feminine and is found in most religions as well as across many aspects of modern culture. Even feminism, maybe without even realizing it, pulls many of their thought processes from the Divine Feminine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible warns Christians about this thinking in Colossians 2:8, \u201cBeware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I find the language in this verse particularly interesting, and decided to dig a little deeper. \u201cThrough philosophy\u2026after the rudiments of the world\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Greek word for \u201cphilosophy\u201d here, \u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03bf\u03c3\u03bf\u03c6\u03af\u03b1, philosophia, means, \u201clove of wisdom,\u201d (Strong\u2019s) \u2026no surprise there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While more interestingly, the Greek word for \u201crudiments,\u201d \u03c3\u03c4\u03c9\u03b9\u03ba\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2, stoicheion, means, \u201cany first thing, from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise\u2026{such as}<\/em> the elements from which all things have come, the material causes of the universe; the heavenly bodies, either as parts of the heavens or (as others think) because in them the elements of man, life and destiny were supposed to reside; the elements, rudiments, primary and fundamental principles of any art, science, or discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put the two together and here is what the commentator, John Gill, says of this passage, \u201cThe apostle does not mean to condemn all arts and sciences as useless and hurtful, such as natural philosophy in its various branches\u2026when kept within due bounds<\/span>, and in their proper place and sphere<\/span>\u2026but he means that philosophy, or science, which is falsely so called\u2026 such principles in philosophy, which in themselves, and in the things of nature, are true, but, when applied to divine things<\/span>, to things above nature, the mere effects of divine power and grace, and of pure revelation, are false<\/span>. Philosophy may be useful as a handmaid; it is not to be a mistress in theological things; it may subserve, but not govern; it is not to be made use of as a judge, or rule in such matters.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He continues, “In a word, the apostle here condemns the philosophy of the Jews<\/span>, and of the Gnostics; the former had introduced natural philosophy in to the worship and service of God<\/span>, and the things appertaining to their religion; and had made the tabernacle and temple, and the most holy place, and the things belonging thereunto, emblems and hieroglyphics of natural things; as of the sun, moon, and stars, and their influences, and of the four elements (earth, air, fire and water)<\/span> as appears from the writing of Josephus and Philo\u2026 In short the apostle\u2019s meaning is, that philosophy is not to be mixed with the pure Gospel of Christ<\/u><\/strong>; it has always been fatal to it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is what it looked like in Bible times. And does that not sound EXACTLY like what we are dealing with today with the New Age movement?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alice Bailey (1880-1949), today known as the mother of the New Age Religion, said the following in her book, The Externalization of the Hierarchy<\/em> (pg. 202), \u201cIn the new world order, spirituality will supersede theology; living experience will take the place of theological acceptances.” Meaning that if we “feel” the divine in nature and experiences in life, then that supersedes God’s Word. (!!!!!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beware! Beware! Beware! I love what Matthew Henry says about verses preceding, Colossians 2:6-7, that they are a \u201csovereign antidote against seducers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith\u2026\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry says, \u201cThe more closely we walk with Christ the more we are rooted and established in the faith. If we walk in him, we shall be rooted in him; and the more firmly we are rooted in him the more closely we shall walk in him.\u201d And as we are walking more closely with him and rooted more firmly in Him, we will have spiritual discernment to easily spot the New Age religion. Verses 6-7 is exactly the prescription we need to “BEWARE!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Language Crossover<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Our obstacle it seems is that scientists and \u201cspiritualists\u201d crossover in their language quite often, and this causes the greatest confusion as well as extreme contention for Bible believers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The scientists may be talking about the \u201cnegative charge\u201d of the earth and the \u201cpositive charge\u201d of the sun. They may mention that when lightning strikes the earth the \u201cenergy is neutralized.\u201d They may say that in the same way, \u201celectrons in the body are neutralized when you touch the earth.\u201d This is all scientifically true. This is Gill\u2019s, \u201ckeeping within due bounds\u201d as stated above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New Age-ers will also talk about the \u201cpositive energy of the earth\u201d and the \u201cpositive energy of the sun.\u201d But they take it further. They say that when we \u201cconnect\u201d with the earth there is a \u201cdivine energy\u201d that enters into our body and we become \u201cone with the earth,\u201d etc.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"lightning<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no greater picture of being spoiled \u201cafter the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scientists are simply stating facts. From data and testing they prove, when you do A, then B is the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New Age-ers are taking those facts and turning them into something more than they actually are\u2014a supernatural power. BIG HUMONGOUS RED FLAG!!!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you see how this would have such a stronghold on people? In their minds, humans have the opportunity to be divine! We have the opportunity to be a god! We have the ability to experience supernatural power! You see, they have been spoiled through vain deceit and the rudiments of the world. BEWARE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I go outside and get the sunlight in my eyes each morning and get some exercise in while wearing barefoot walking shoes, and as a side effect my cells have have slowly become healthier over the last year and a half and all of my symptoms have slowly disappeared\u2026that\u2019s the truth, staying within the bounds of what God allowed it to do, and science tells me why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if I start saying\u2026or even believing, that I have become one with the earth, and I can feel divine energy surging through me because I\u2019m going out and soaking in the sun\u2019s energy and the earth\u2019s divine potential. Uh! We have a problem! This is Gill\u2019s \u201cthings of nature, which are true, applied to divine things, which becomes false.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What To Do With Those Buzz Words like \u201cEnergy\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But you see, both scientists and New-Age advocates both use buzz-words like “energy,” or “electrical,” or “positive charge,” resulting in Bible-believing Christians to immediately write it off. \u201cIt\u2019s New Age!\u201d they say, throwing the baby right out with the bath water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may hear someone say, \u201cThe body is electrical!\u201d And the immediate response is, \u201cStay away from that! It\u2019s New Age!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019ll hear again, \u201cThe sun has positive energy. The earth has a negative charge.\u201d \u201cFalse! That\u2019s a New Age statement!\u201d They cry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But let\u2019s think about this logically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the body truly wasn\u2019t \u201celectrical,\u201d how is it possible for a heart to be restarted or an irregular heartbeat restored by defibrillation\u2014an electrical shock?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the sun truly didn\u2019t have \u201cenergy,\u201d how is it possible to make electricity from solar panels?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My point is, all of these statements are TRUE staying “within their due bounds.” But the New Age people are doing exactly what Romans 1 says they will do. They are \u201cholding the truth in unrighteousness,\u201d \u201cprofessing to be wise, they became fools,\u201d and they begin \u201cworshipping the creature more than the creator.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biblical Principles and the Glory of God<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Does the Bible say, if you go outside, the earth will heal you? No, absolutely not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there are principles in scripture such as,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cO Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches<\/span>.\u201d<\/em> Psalm 104:24<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTruly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun<\/span>.\u201d<\/em> Ecclesiastes 11:7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe causes grass to grow for the cattle and herb for the service of man<\/span>.\u201d<\/em> Psalm 104:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoreover the profit of the earth is for all<\/span>: the king himself is served by the field<\/span>.\u201d<\/em> Ecclesiastes 5:9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"green<\/figure>
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I am not claiming that the earth has supernatural healing powers. IT DOESN\u2019T. I am not claiming that God created the world specifically to heal. It doesn\u2019t say that anywhere in the Bible. What we see is that God\u2019s creation, including the human body, which was made to heal on its own when given the right conditions, is here to display His glory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: fo<\/span>r I have created him for my glory<\/span>, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.\u201d<\/em> Isaiah 43:6-7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever<\/span>. Amen.\u201d<\/em> Romans 11:36<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe heavens declare the glory of God<\/span>…\u201d <\/em>Psalm 19:1<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him<\/span>:\u201d<\/em> Colossians 1:16<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what I am saying is that by these biblical principles, are we surprised that God\u2019s creation CAN aid in our health? If the \u201criches of the earth\u201d ease our anxiety and depression, if our \u201ceyes beholding the sun\u201d balances our hormones, if herbs grown \u201cfor the service of man\u201d help us recover from illness, if our health \u201cprofits\u201d from the earth, does not God STILL get all the glory and praise for his wisdom in His creation?! All of that is literally all because of HIM and His infinite, incredible wisdom and how precisely and exactly He created everything down to the tiniest atom found right here in the human body as well as all the way in outer space on the sun! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biblically I cannot see it any other way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friends, hold the truth in righteousness<\/span>. Exercise God\u2019s wisdom when coming to this conversation. And most of all, as you behold His awesome power, WORSHIP THE CREATOR!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to learn more about the New Age, and the Divine Feminine in particular, from a Bible-believing stand point, I\u2019d like to recommend the series called Third Adam on YouTube<\/a>. This will open your eyes to the stronghold the devil has on our world, and it will also further equip you with spiritual discernment as you run into New Age ideas in books, media and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Hearken unto this…stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.” Job 37:14<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today we will look at a very basic history and science of Barefoot Walking and talk about the dangers of mixing science with “spirituality.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[553,453,454],"tags":[555,551,554,446,447,552],"class_list":["post-4229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-circadian-rhythm","category-health","category-hormones","tag-barefoot-walking","tag-circadian-rhythm","tag-grounding","tag-health","tag-hormones","tag-womans-health"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8n00cqwnqo8.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4229","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4229"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4253,"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4229\/revisions\/4253"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faithfulandflourishing.org\/staging\/9315\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}