Faith and Healing – What Faith-Healing is About,with Special Reference to the Christian Tradition

Abstract

The comparatively new scientific discipline of epidemiology of religion studying the interplay of religion on health calls for a reconsideration of religious practices, one among which is faith-healing addressed here. This article gives first a brief analysis of the structure of exemplary faith-healing accounts across cultures, religions, and times. The second part looks at how medical professionals interpret faith-healings and the proceedings of the Medical Bureau at Lourdes, France, which screens claims of miraculous healings. The third section examines faith-healing in the biblical tradition, especially the healing ministry of Jesus and his Apostles, uncovering unexpected aspects of the issue. The final section identifies some basic epistemological challenges posed by faith-healing. Concluding that the role faith plays in healing is not to be reduced to its therapeutic aspects, it is argued that the trustworthiness and reliability of what one believes in, the content of faith, also matters significantly. While a superficial hope of the credulous might lead to despair (when despite all efforts healing does not come about), hope emerging from an awareness of the truly Ultimate enables coping with whatever the result might be.