Touching the Spirit: Re-enchanting the Person in the Body

In this essay, we argue that touch constitutes a sacred connection between the patient and practitioner. When touch is avoided or overlooked, the enigmatic inner workings of the body are ignored as those aspects of the body that can be quantified and ultimately controlled are emphasized. In utilizin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of religion and health
Authors: Determeyer, Peggy L. (Author) ; Kutac, Julie E. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Springer Science + Business Media B. V. [2018]
In: Journal of religion and health
Year: 2018, Volume: 57, Issue: 5, Pages: 1679-1689
Further subjects:B Healing
B Touch
B Care
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:In this essay, we argue that touch constitutes a sacred connection between the patient and practitioner. When touch is avoided or overlooked, the enigmatic inner workings of the body are ignored as those aspects of the body that can be quantified and ultimately controlled are emphasized. In utilizing touch as a fundamental way of opening up space for the sacred, the practitioner affirms the humanity for both the patient and herself. Only by returning to the senses can practitioners resist the dehumanizing effects of machinery and re-enchant the health-care profession in caring for persons they have sworn to serve.
ISSN:1573-6571
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion and health
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s10943-017-0544-4