Distinguishing science from pseudoscience is not merely a theoretical problem in epistemology, that is, the branch of philosophy that studies the nature, sources, limits, and validity of scientific knowledge. It is a practical problem in our everyday lives which, if left unresolved, not only poses a threat but sometimes destroys the physical and mental health of certain unsuspecting people. We have become aware of this in recent times through media coverage of various aspects of the case involving the death of a well-known singer during a medical procedure at a clinic that was not certified to perform it.
More generally, pseudoscience has tangible consequences for physical health, consequences that are not immediately perceptible in mental health and social behavior, but also affect the soundness of spiritual life and the simplicity and purity of ecclesiastical life. The ecclesiastical mindset is corrupted when the truth of the faith becomes confused with fantasies that merely appear scientific and are presented with the authority of revelation and the supernatural. For this reason, it is necessary, even in the realm of spiritual life, to have a clear understanding of the limits of human science, as well as certain criteria for distinguishing it from pseudoscience.
