Prayer, Process, and the Future of Medicine
The wall of separation between spirituality and medicine is crumbling. Physicians are discovering the importance of prayer, spirituality, and religious participation in enhancing physical and mental health and responding to stressful life circumstances. A new metaphysical model is needed to replace...
| Published in: | Journal of religion and health |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Springer Science + Business Media B. V.
[2000]
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| In: |
Journal of religion and health
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| Further subjects: | B
Alternative Model
B Life Circumstance B Mental Health B Relational Nature B Stressful Life |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
| Summary: | The wall of separation between spirituality and medicine is crumbling. Physicians are discovering the importance of prayer, spirituality, and religious participation in enhancing physical and mental health and responding to stressful life circumstances. A new metaphysical model is needed to replace the dualistic Cartesian-Newtonian model that has undergirded modern biomedicine. The process-relational metaphysics, influenced by the seminal thought of Alfred North Whitehead, is a fruitful alternative model for the future partnership of spirituality and medicine. A process-relational metaphysic supports this new partnership through its affirmation of (1) the relational nature of life, (2) the essential relatedness of mind, body, and spirit, (3) the multifactorial nature of causation in terms of health and illness, and (4) the affirmation of creativity and the redefinition of divine and human power in terms of partnership. This new metaphysical foundation provides a basis for including spiritual concerns in the care of patients, the education of physicians, and in professional self-care. Physicians are called to be partners with their patients, nurturing their own spiritual well-being even as they care for the spiritual well-being of their patients. |
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| ISSN: | 1573-6571 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of religion and health
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1023/A:1004686624118 |