Religion and Health

The Role of Religious Communities

Abstract

Religion and health have been intertwined since the dawn of humanity. In recent centuries, this connection has tended to be separated at various levels, ranging from the provision of healthcare to an exclusively biological/empirical view of health, illness, and healing. The 19th and early 20th century were characterized by a widespread emphasis on the negative infuence of religion on mental health, particularly in the feld of psychotherapy. This shift strongly marked the beginning of the 20th century, and it took several decades for medical research to return to the question of the infuence of faith and religion on health. In the frst part of this paper, attention will be given to the impact of religion on health. This will be followed by a discussion of religion’s place in global public health and the role of local church communities.