Some people are surprised to hear that spirituality ever had a role in healing. However, not counting this blog site, I believe you will hear more and more about the importance of spirituality in regards to health issues.
Perhaps we've all forgotten that religions and religious organizations were the first sponsors of medical care institutions.
For those asking whether spirituality and faith should have a place in health care discussions or for those questioning the interface of theology and medicine, Dr. Jeff Levin's book, God, Faith, and Health: Exploring the Spirituality Healing Connection, supplies considerable talking points.
Who is Jeff Levin? Here's a small snip from his bio:
Dr. Levin was the first scientist to systematically review the empirical literature on religion and health, and the first scientist funded by the NIH [National Institutes of Health] to conduct research on the topic. He is a Past President of the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine, is a member of the Extended Faculty of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, was Chairman of the NIH Working Group on Quantitative Methods in Alternative Medicine, and has served on the editorial boards of numerous peer-reviewed journals.Yet, as fascinating a read as Levin's book is, the forward by Larry Dossey, M.D., is just as enlightening. For example, Dossey, in part, writes:
Future historians of medicine will describe the twentieth century as the period in which spirituality, after a long absence, began to return to healing... Most people outside of medicine take for granted the idea that religious practices such as worship, prayer, and meditation are important for their health, and they often wonder what the fuss is over these issues is all about. But the fact is, unfortunately, that medical science has long looked with disdain on the possibility of a spiritual factor in health. ... Generations of physicians have viewed with skepticism and often with ridicule the possibility that our patients' religious views and spiritual practices might make a difference in their health. But today our patients are having the last laugh.Perhaps, in years to come, spirituality will be recognized as having an even greater role in health care than most of society can now imagine. It will be intriguing to watch the evolution of our spiritual awakening.Not too long ago, physicians believed they should not inquire about the sexual practices and drinking habits of their patients. But as evidence mounted that these were important health issues, physicians began to inquire about them with the appropriate sensitivity. Today it would be considered malpractice to avoid these areas. In the same way, physicians can learn to interact skillfully and gently regarding their patients' spiritual life, to the benefit of their health.
Yet, what will cause this awakening, this radical shift in health care? Could it be a growing dissatisfaction with the multitude of disturbing side-effects caused by most medicines? Perhaps it is because plenty of what medical researchers conclude in their studies is eventually found to be misleading, exaggerated, or flat-out wrong? Or could it be that many are learning that each of us, first and foremost, is a spiritual being? My study of Jesus' healing ministry and my own twenty-eight year healing practice has taught me that since we are spiritual, spiritual treatments are effective.
I welcome spirituality's return to the health arena. I hope you will too.
Keith Wommack is a blogger, Christian Science practitioner and teacher, musician, and step-dad. He is the media and legislative liaison for Christian Science in Texas. He has been described as a spiritual spur (since every horse needs a little nudge now and then). He is also fond of breakfast tacos.
» Life » Love » Science » Christian » Health » Prayer » World » -- Yes, we are finding that they are connected. Discovering the links and exploring how each one impacts the other is an adventure.
Keith on Twitter: @TexasCS
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tafoer,
Hahahahahahaha...
January 31, 2012 at 9:22 p.m.People do raise from the dead! Every election day in Chicago.
January 31, 2012 at 6:15 p.m.And concerning free will. Your will is not absolutely free. It is limited by our limitations. I might choose to fly to interstellar space, but I can't. I might choose to live only on air, but I can't. I might choose to be a genius, but I don't have the IQ, so I can't. Our choices are limited by our biology, our culture, our intellect and the choices of other persons, businesses and governments. So don't get too excited about free will. The will is only free in a very constrained manner.
January 31, 2012 at 5:38 p.m.Mr Williams,
January 31, 2012 at 5:22 p.m.If I were god, why kill you now when I get to let you continue to suffer in this vale of tears and then torture you for all eternity in a lake of fire and burning sulfur which is the second death?
Borg.
If God was a dictator or a tyrant if you will, then why do we have freedom of choice and free will. You make God, which you don't believe in into a sorry angry and mean ( A-hole) boss who likes to snapped off people's heads. God isn't like that. I have said and done wrong some things, then if God was this super Tyrant then how come a lighting bolt came down ans struck me yet?
January 31, 2012 at 5:02 p.m.Well, I don't expect to see him or anything else. Dead is dead. I would be greatly surprised to encounter any divinity beyond the end of my life. But to do justice to your hypothetical, I would say this: "Why the masquerade? Why not be more open about your existence? Because of this charade, most of humanity has died without knowing who you are--apparently by your own design. That sounds neither merciful nor fair. And for an all powerful god to act in such way has much more in common with dictators, tyrants and dysfunctional parents. I'm not sure I would want to spend eternity worshiping such a monstrous caricature of a supposedly "loving god.""
January 31, 2012 at 4:54 p.m.BorgLord.
I am not here to defend Gary White because he doesn't deserves it. However, I have to ask you this question and I hope that you will honestly answer them. What if you die within the next hour and see God what would you say to him?
Mr. Williams
January 31, 2012 at 4:30 p.m.Darn tootin' Kyle! And the operative word here is MYTHOLOGY. Mythology and documented, provable fact are NOT the same thing Gary. Your Bible makes all sorts of claims--none of which have one single shred of documented, verifiable evidence to back them up. So when you make a claim like this: "The same God that raised the dead 2000 yrs ago is the same God today doing the same thing today." You better have some powerful evidence. "Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence."
January 31, 2012 at 2:36 p.m.There are dozens of reports of people rising from the dead in all mythology.
January 31, 2012 at 11:59 a.m.Really Gary? Really?
January 30, 2012 at 9:09 p.m.People raised from the dead? One documented case--not hearsay, or my friend told me or some preacher claimed to. Documented. The guy is dead--not for a few minutes and brought back on the table. Jesus waited 4 days to raise Lazarus. Do you know of a modern documented case? I think not.
Supernatural healings to the Bible reading Christians is as common as honey is to a bee. Heb 13;8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today & forever. The same God that raised the dead 2000 yrs ago is the same God today doing the same thing today.
January 30, 2012 at 7:03 p.m.