Conspirituality Bonus Sample: How Wellness Influencers Became Radicalized
Sep 8, 2025
Explore the origins of the modern wellness movement through Halbert Dunn's influential work from 1961. Discover how wellness rhetoric has evolved, shifting from personal empowerment to radical claims against traditional medicine. Delve into the contrasting views of contemporary conspiritualists and the socio-spiritual implications of their beliefs. The journey highlights the legacy of past ideas and how they continue to shape today's wellness conversations.
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Dunn As Wellness Originator
- Halbert Dunn helped build US vital statistics and coined modern 'wellness' language in the 1950s and 60s.
- His 1961 book High-Level Wellness seeded ideas that later shaped the wellness movement.
Old Rhetoric Recycles Into Radical Views
- Many contemporary wellness influencers recycle themes from earlier thinkers like Dunn rather than inventing new ideas.
- Language like "you are your own best doctor" evolved into more extreme distrust of medicine.
Comparing Dunn To Modern influencers
- Derek Barris compares Dunn to modern figures like Callie and Casey Means and RFK Jr.'s circle to show continuity.
- He notes Dunn didn't sell products, unlike many modern wellness entrepreneurs.
