Energo-Chromo-Kinese
Encyclopedia
Energo-Chromo-Kinese, also named ECK, is a pseudo-scientific and esoteric-oriented new religious movement
founded in October 1987 in Villefranche-sur-Mer
by Patrick Véret, a former acupuncturist and homeopath, and his wife, Danièle Drouant.
" and is explained in two books written by Patrick Véret: La Médecine énergétique and La spasmophilie enfin vaincue, respectively written in 1981 and 1985. According to French cult consultant Jean-Marie Abgrall
, ECK doctrines "represent an amalgam (or a synthesis, according to its proponents) of various theories referring to human "energy" — mainly Chinese medicine and Vedic medicine. According to ECK, the human body has seven energy centers that vibrate on the same frequencies as certain colors or certain sounds."
On 22 February 1993, the French branch of the organization was dissolved by a court decision of the Tribunal de commerce de Paris and the founders split off. Véret founded the Nutrition énergétique des organes et des méridiens (NEOM), and his former wife led the Ordre du temple de la Jérusalem céleste (OTJC).
The movement is currently active in France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Canada, the United States, Portugal, Australia... In France, the group seems to be in the decline.
in the 1999 parliamentary report established by the Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France and also appeared in the 1997 Belgian parliamentary report. It was considered as dangerous because of its pseudo-medical speech which could be harmful to members' health, exaggerated requests for money, and indoctrination of the members who became dependent to the group. It was also criticized by anti-cult groups and former members.
In 2007, an academic thesis about the dangers of cults for health contained a large analysis of ECK beliefs and practices.
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
founded in October 1987 in Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
by Patrick Véret, a former acupuncturist and homeopath, and his wife, Danièle Drouant.
History and organization
ECK uses many associations and societies (including Connaissance ontologique universelle et recherche biologique énergétique (COURBE), Energo 8 international, Energo conseils, Jéricho 3000, Association pour la recherche en médecine énergétique and SOS Spasmophilie) and is particularly active in the therapeutic and medical fields. Centers and schools were subsequently established to teach the beliefs of the group, which won over business executives and major corporations, but especially doctors, dentists and kinesiotherapists. Customers who attend these four-degree courses become "kinergists". The doctrine is a "gnostic pantheismPantheism
Pantheism is the view that the Universe and God are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the Greek meaning "all" and the Greek meaning "God". As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that "God" is best seen as a process of...
" and is explained in two books written by Patrick Véret: La Médecine énergétique and La spasmophilie enfin vaincue, respectively written in 1981 and 1985. According to French cult consultant Jean-Marie Abgrall
Jean-Marie Abgrall
Jean-Marie Abgrall, born April 12, 1950 in Toulon, France, is a French psychiatrist, criminologist, specialist in forensic medicine, cult consultant, and graduate in criminal law. He has been an expert witness at the Supreme Court of Appeal and Court for Businesses in France on the subject of...
, ECK doctrines "represent an amalgam (or a synthesis, according to its proponents) of various theories referring to human "energy" — mainly Chinese medicine and Vedic medicine. According to ECK, the human body has seven energy centers that vibrate on the same frequencies as certain colors or certain sounds."
On 22 February 1993, the French branch of the organization was dissolved by a court decision of the Tribunal de commerce de Paris and the founders split off. Véret founded the Nutrition énergétique des organes et des méridiens (NEOM), and his former wife led the Ordre du temple de la Jérusalem céleste (OTJC).
The movement is currently active in France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Canada, the United States, Portugal, Australia... In France, the group seems to be in the decline.
Reception
ECK was listed as a cultCult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
in the 1999 parliamentary report established by the Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France and also appeared in the 1997 Belgian parliamentary report. It was considered as dangerous because of its pseudo-medical speech which could be harmful to members' health, exaggerated requests for money, and indoctrination of the members who became dependent to the group. It was also criticized by anti-cult groups and former members.
In 2007, an academic thesis about the dangers of cults for health contained a large analysis of ECK beliefs and practices.