I too believe that the stones hold certain powers and in fact I know that many cultures believe the same thing. I can cite an example of such. I happen to live in Michigan near a reservation and I happen to know a Native American woman that uses her Ameythst to draw impurities from her body. She keeps it in her pocket and when the stone turns cloudy in nature she removes it and replaces it. I have seen the stone when she started out as well as when she removed it. Laying witness to such things tends to make one believe a little more.
Having studied quantum physics I have discovered that everything vibrates at a molecular level, those vibrations have an effect on everything around them, including the human body, now as to certain stones having certain effects, I can believe it. Different stones have different vibrational frequencies. I see no reason that they would NOT have an effect on the body.
Everyone's brought up some really good points. Personally, regardless of a person's beliefs, I don't think any faith should require you to buy things to be able to practice or worship. I'm talking about all the books you read in the New Age section of Chapters that make 15-year old kids run out and spend all their money on crystals and candles and incense.
That said . . . I don't necessarily deny the "powers" that any particular correspondence may be reputed to have. I think a combination of things, including Tastanagee's quantum physics, Unferth's mental expression, the placebo effect, and even plain old REAL supernatural powers all factor into the effects any one person may achieve.
I once thought those magnetic "healing" bracelets they sell on TV were a really terrific scam, until I wrote a paper for school on biomagnetic energy. Now I still think they're a scam, but for a completely different reason. The theory is sound.
Or maybe I'm just mad because I used to be one of those 15-year olds that spent all my money on crystals.
A work colleague of mine believes in the power of these crystals.
She has started 'dowsing' I don't know much about this, only that she asks questions to the dowser, and gets replies to her answers.
She has started mapping the rest of her life out on the answer that she gets from the dowser.
In theory she doesn't seem to be hurting or harming anybody by her actions, but ultimately I feel that she is setting herself up for a fall.
I'm sorry if I offend anyone with this,but I feel that I have to say it anyway. It doesn't hold with my beliefs,and I feel that it is still dabbling with something that isn't God given.Therefore, if it isn't God given, who exactly are you dealing with?
It certainly gives you 'food for thought'.
Mind my disbelief to those believers in this thread. I firmly believe that ones belief determines the power of a crystal or stone. That is to say that no stone or crystal has any real power, but it is your mind that gives it strength. Your mind believes it so that you find a way to make it true. Like most religious affairs, great things happen in the mind of the one who believes. If I don't believe a stone has any power, it will not help me. If you believe it doesn't it helps you, but not because the stone has actual power. If anything has any real power, then it is not dependant of faith in the object, it merely shows its power because it is there.
I connect it to the placebo effect. If the person using crystal therapy connects it to whatever healing they notice, then I suppose it does work. I don't think it harms anything. I can't think of any poisonous crystals we should be worried about off the top of my head.