Reggie Gold has used the very good analogy of a walk in the woods when describing our understanding and development of the chiropractic philosophy. You can only walk into the woods halfway. Beyond that point you are no longer walking in; you are walking out of the woods. The philosophy of chiropractic is without a doubt a vast area of thought with many trails for exploration. Unlike general philosophy, however, chiropractic does have specific circumscribed boundaries. Its parameters are defined by chiropractic and chiropractic is defined by its objective, at least it is in our straight model. So while there is a vast area of exploration within the chiropractic philosophy, there is also a set boundary. To be into chiropractic as much as possible, it would seem desirable to move as close to the middle as possible, to the central point of the philosophy, the middle of the woods, and once there to stay there. I am not sure that anyone has found the center yet, although Reggie has probably come the closest. And if we ever get there, our search for knowledge or “love of wisdom” will not end. One could spend the rest of his or her life in the center of the woods studying the flora, the fauna and the microscopic activities there. Perhaps someday that is what will happen in chiropractic. Meanwhile our exploration is still in its early stages trying to find the middle of the woods. I believe that there are numerous trails that can take us there but, unfortunately, there are even more that lead us out of the woods.
The history of the straight chiropractic movement is replete with great thinkers who, in their quest for the central point of chiropractic, took a trail out of the woods and either left the chiropractic philosophy altogether or ended their journey so far from the center and so close to the edge that what they were doing barely resembled chiropractic at all. The late Dr. Bill Bahan of the famous Bahan Family of Chiropractors in New Hampshire is a good example. Dr. Bahan left chiropractic and established a religion. At the risk of being branded a heretic, I must say that B.J.’s writings indicate he had missed the center and was moving toward the edge. Of course at the time he was developing the philosophy, chiropractic was not yet defined by its objective. Without the objective to clearly circumscribe the boundaries, one cannot possibly know where the center of the philosophy is. Had B.J. lived long enough, I believe he would have found his way back toward the center.
If we are honest about our chiropractic journey, we are all on a trail to the center of the philosophy. Some of us are on a relatively straight trail (no pun intended) and some are on a rather circuitous route. No matter which trail you are on, you need to periodically stop and check your location and direction. It is called slipping and checking. As I look at the straight chiropractic community, I often feel like there is too much slipping and not enough checking. Obviously, it is easy to slip when you are blazing a trail over uncharted territory. The insidious problem facing many in the straight community today is the temptation to follow those who appear to be or claim to be trailblazers. Those who say “follow me, I have the easiest and the shortest route, I know where the center of this philosophy is. It is in my concepts, my technique, my programs and my ideas.” When following these trailblazers, we often fail to use our compass, the objective and the previously learned truths of the philosophy. After all, if someone claims to know the way, there is no need for a map or compass. Many of these would-be leaders however, do not know where the center is. They have not been there themselves. They themselves, are stumbling along, trying to find a path. They can and are leading good chiropractors down the wrong path. They are well meaning and often they believe they have the way, but many of them are just a little off in their direction. It is not enough to have good intentions. We must have a good philosophical compass. We need to be following less the philosophies of would-be chiropractic gurus who are conducting seminars and follow the dictates of our philosophy and of reason more. We need more thinkers and less followers so that we may more quickly reach the center of the woods as individuals and as a profession. v17n1
Just a point of clarification. Dr. William Bahan did not create his own religion; he became a part of an already established spiritual community that had been in existence since the 1930’s. Many Chiropractors, from all over the United States, were a part of this group during the 60’s – 80’s and found that their practices were actually enhanced by their association. This would include Bill’s younger brother, Walter Bahan, my father; who was a practicing Chiropractor until his death.
You speak of reading BJ’s writing regarding my Uncle. I’m curious if you have read anything written by Bill himself; or if you ever had opportunity to meet him? I’m certain that a first hand account might allow you to view things from his perspective rather than the perspective (opinion) of someone on the outside looking in.
You are not a heritic but you do impune a man’s good name and reputation based on the biased observations of another man.
~ April Bahan
April, I don’t believe that I impuned Dr. Bill Bahan in any of my writings. I have the greatest respect for the Bahan brothers. I just relayed the facts as I undestoood them. If I conveyed misinformation, I apologize.Your Uncle Tom was a great friend of ADIO and left us a generous donation in his will whilen I was president. Any stories that I heard of the Derry N.H. practice were only laudatory. I actually have practiced with a box on the wall for the past 45 years. , modeled after someone who was influenced by someone who was influenced by the Bahans and George Shears. I would be happy and honored to write about Dr. Bahan and your famous and respected family. Please personally write me and convey any information you feel would be helpful. I will acquire your approval befor I publish anything. I understand there might have been some tension between the Bahans and BJ and I would love to be part of setting the record straight.
I had the pleasure of knowing Bill Bahan ,I wad working in Exeter N.H. And hired Jim Eifling as a salesman,Jim was living at Green Pastures,and invited me to the farm. It was a new beginning for me.When Bill Bahan went to UNH to speak ,I also went to listen.I spent a great amount of time at Green Pastures,What a beautiful person he was!
Welcome to the blog. I’m assuming you have a long knowledge of chiropractic history. The only Bahan had the privilege of meeting was Bill’s brother Tom who briefly visited the school when I was president and left us a generous donation upon his passing. What a great family!
I would love any information I can get about the Bahan family. I am a chiropractor in Oklahoma city. I hold a annual chiropractic philosophy meeting every year. I recently learned of the incredible Bahan legacy. I watch the memorial many mornings before I start with patients. Thank you in advance for any info you have to share.
Tim Young
Tim, the only information I have are anecdotal stories about the Bahans and their large GPC practice in Derry N.H. My understanding is that hey were strictly upper cervical/HIO practitioners.Tom Bahan apparently did not practice the GPC which was begun by their uncle Gorge Shears who tried to convince BJ to accept the idea and avoid the need for licensure. Apparently he did not want to go in that direction but Shears and BJ remained friends until his death. In his will, Tom Bahan left a large donation to ADIO when I was president and an even larger one to Sherman. Bob McEwan got his idea for the GPC from them as I understand it and influenced Reggie, who called it a cooperative or “box on the wall” fee system. Bill Bahan left the brothers and chiropractic and started Ontology. I don’t know much about it but it seemed to be a religious/healing system, perhaps an extension/offshoot of his uncle’s God-Patient-Chiropractor. I have some old copies of the G-P-C Server, Shears’ newsletter which was mostly chiropractic philosophy and about the fee system. A niece of Bill’s contacted me a number of years ago, apparently wanting to enlighten me about Bahan, fearing I was going to write something negative about him. She saw the Pivot Review article that you did.(He was quite controversial in the profession) Since I was not, I did not follow up with her and lost the correspondence when I retired from active practice and moved. Irene Gold, Reggie’s widow, now living in FL and Ernie Landi, who took over Reggie’s Spring Valley, NY practice in 1973 may be able to give you some more information. That’s about all I have. Sorry I could not be of more help.