The Theology of Illness - 651 Words

The spiritual significance of illness and suffering is a topic Christians continue to grapple with, as Larchet points out in The Theology of Illness. Scripture offers a wealth of wisdom and cues for understanding illness, health, and healing from a Christian perspective. Larchet analyzes the various and often contradictory Christian positions on health and illness, revealing how attitudes have shifted over time and with changes in medical technology, practice, and ethics. For example, St. Barsanuphius presents a comprehensive analysis of the spiritual significance of illness and suffering. One view holds that illness signifies a lack of faith; another presents illness in terms of a person who is offered the opportunity to develop a stronger faith, or whose faith is being put to a test like the story of Job. Ultimately, the latter remains the most helpful way to approach illness and healing from a Christian perspective. The essence of Christian health care is that, Healing itself, whi le resulting from natural processes, actually comes from God, (Larchet 116). There are several theoretical pitfalls a Christian may encounter when grappling with his or her illness or that of a loved one. For example, it may be tempting to place ones faith in modern medicine and forget that God provides the power with which to access, use, and succeed with modern medicine. This point of view is understandable given the secular nature of the modern medical system. Yet only God is responsibleShow MoreRelatedChristian Theory of Counseling Essays1211 Words   |  5 Pagesdisciplines of theology, psychology, and Scripture. In providing a holistic approach in to counseling individuals, it is prudent to survey one’s mind, body, soul, temporal systems, and super natural systems, in which all influence the person. A more complete plan of care may be offered when the contributions from both psychology and theology are offered. â€Å"The best interdisciplinary integration work usually comes from those who have formal or informal preparation in both psy chology and theology† (McMinnRead MoreCase Study1076 Words   |  5 Pagestreatment of persons with mental illness was their concern. I know my church’s reaction to John’s death is not normative of all churches, nor do I mean to indict all Christians for the response my local Christian community gave at that time. However, both Mental Health: the Inclusive Church Resource by Swinton and Vanier and Nancy Eiesland’s The Disabled God give examples of how Christian community can damage those who seem â€Å"different†, either due to mental illness or various disabilities. Both piecesRead MoreIntegrative Approaches Of Psychology And Christianity1331 Words   |  6 PagesGod’s presence everywhere they look and everything they do. Some may see it in a psychological way, always looking for the explanation of why something is the way it is. Together, theology and psychology can bring a different view and perspective that they never would have saw by themselves. Many people find that theology and psychology can draw from each other and be very beneficial. Neither view is wrong. They both just want to know the truth. Just like in the past few centuries, churches did notRead MoreThe Anxiety Cure Essay1182 Words   |  5 Pagesneed the power of God working in our lives. Health versus Illness Health consists of living a life of tranquility with the brain producing â€Å"happy messages†. Having the life that God intended us to live of being calm, serene, at peace, and happy. Anxiety takes away these messages and tranquility causing illness in one’s life â€Å"Stress depletes our natural brain tranquilizers† (Hart, 1999, p.5) resulting in panic which can be an acute illness called a â€Å"panic attack† or a chronic aliment known as â€Å"panicRead MoreHealthcare Faith and Healing1490 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Sikh, Shinto and Buddhist faiths, proceeds from a Christian healthcare perspective. To initiate the discussion, it is appropriate to first consider some of the Christian care-giving values that drive this perspective. Christian ethicality and theology are important forces in healing, especially through its invocation of spiritual hope. Hope is a sentiment which has commanded recognition as bearing a place of importance in human affairs throughout recorded history. This creates a documented associationRead MoreThe Bible And Worship Essay871 Words   |  4 Pagestheological education. Some churches end as a cult or never progresses in its teachings. Some pastors fell, quit, or stagnate; or worse became abusive, lonely, bitter, or disillusioned. These are significant for I saw the need to write our history and theology; and to educate pastors and leaders in addressing the needs of the church without them falling into a messiah complex. I dream of starting a Bible school, but also move beyond that—of establishing a top university where graduates become contribut ingRead MoreThe Transmission Of Aids With Homosexuality863 Words   |  4 PagesHistorically, as a result of our fathers not wanting to be regarded as sanctioning behaviours at odd with the church’s theology, the church has always taken a conservative stance on sexual ethics. That said, ministers, till this very day, still link the transmissions of AIDS with homosexuality, a schismatic theological issue for all denominations, since it is much easier to deny the problem of diseased bodies and avoid talk of sex and sexually transmitted diseases. This will not be that kind of sermonRead MoreMarxism and Health Care1239 Words   |  5 Pagesand help to highlight the social determinants of health. The application of theoretical perspective being employed in regards to health can be further explored through the analysis of fundamental Marxist ideologies. The fundamental basis of Marxist theology has strong links to health as it is concerned with the distinction between the upper c lass and the lower class. In particular Marxism explores the working classes inability to exercise adequate control over the determinants of health. Through extensiveRead MoreSaint Thomas Aquinas Essay1591 Words   |  7 Pagesand a patron of catholic universities. Many religious orders study and follow the teachings and followings of Saint Thomas Aquinas. In this paper I have uncovered the true life of Saint Thomas Aquinas and his methods of Theology. He strongly emphasized his belief of theology through revolation. By looking further into his teachings, I have become more familiar and feel closer to my own personal faith. Saint Thomas Aquinas is one of the most famous saints of the Catholic Church. He is calledRead MorePsychology, Theology, And Spirituality Essay1665 Words   |  7 Pages Mark R. McMinn’s (2011) Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling establish a way to bring Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality to Christian Counselors. He introduces a replica of how to integrate the three disciplines in the counseling office. The purpose of the book is to instruct counselors how to integrate categories of Psychology, Theology and Spirituality into Christian Counseling. McMinn (2011) contends that many challenges both professional and personal face Christian