R. Yedunandanudu (aka Yadhu-X)
Right word at the right time is a marker of a sound mind. But given the times we live in, it’s the sound that fills in for words — impressive words that mean nothing.
This phenomenon first manifested(!) itself in the corporate workplace. No wonder there is actually a book called The Dictionary of Corporate Bullshit: An A to Z Lexicon of Empty, Enraging, and Just Plain Stupid Office Talk.
Is popular spirituality also going through a similar phase? In podcasts, wellness pages, and “spiritual” talks, one hears the same set of words: energy, vibrations, manifestation, and even quantum, sometimes.
On the surface, they sound deep, almost scientific. But when one pauses and unpacks them, most of them are just gibberish — beautiful noise without any meaning.
Here are some of the most common examples:
- Energy
Science: The capacity to do work, measurable in joules and governed by laws of conservation.
Spiritual spin: Here, “energy” becomes a mood, not a measurable force. - Vibrations
Science: Oscillation of particles, measured in hertz.
Spiritual spin: Basically, “feeling better or worse” in spiritual packaging. - Aura
Science: In medicine, it’s a sensory warning before a seizure; in physics, aurora means natural atmospheric light.
Spiritual spin: A poetic belief in glowing human fields (usually used as metaphors). It’s not proven, and never measured. - Quantum
Science: The smallest unit of energy; quantum mechanics deals with subatomic reality through precise equations.
Spiritual spin: Phrases like “Quantum healing” or “Quantum consciousness” often used as an alternative for something “magical” or “instant,” detached from actual physics. - Manifestation
Meaning: To make something visible or demonstrate.
Spiritual spin: “Think it and it will happen.” Although it can reflect the power of self-belief, most people use it as if some otherworldly force is guiding their actions.
The Real Problem
When spirituality decorates itself with scientific words, it confuses both science and faith. Science loses precision, and spirituality loses honesty. What’s left is a soft fog of phrases that sound wise but explain nothing.
This isn’t a new phenomenon. Across religions, philosophies, and new-age movements, the same trick repeats. Borrowing the vocabulary of science to give spiritual talk a modern shine.
Why is this working?
Because vagueness works. It gives people the opportunity to fill their own meanings into words. That makes the message feel personal and profound. For the speaker, it’s the perfect trick: sound wise and never get questioned.
As George Orwell in his famous essay “Politics and the English Language” (1946), warned us that ornamental and abstract language can be used to disguise lies, manipulate thought, and make nonsense sound profound.