What is Spiritual Healing?

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A three-fold, holistic model of the human being best illustrates the concept of spiritual healing. In this model each individual can be said to have three spheres of being: mind, body, and spirit. In cases of spiritual healing the cultivation of the third realm, spirit, has a healing effect on the mind and the body. Using medical terminology this can described in terms of the internal versus the external locus of control. With the external locus of control, individuals look outside of themselves for healing, to medical advice or to medication. Using the internal locus of control, individuals look within themselves for healing through self-reflective tools such as stress management, meditation or prayer. In the case study presented, David utilized the internal locus of control. He dealt with his sickness by first looking within and then reflecting on his concept of God and healing. This seems to have had a calming effect on his thought, and ultimately lead to a healing of his flu symptoms. David's testimonial illustrates that healing can be stimulated within the spiritual realm of an individual, and can then manifest itself in the mind and the physical body.

Spiritual healing is very broad topic because there are infinite ways that the spiritual component of the individual can be cultivated. These approaches span all cultures, ethnicities and religious affiliations. Specific approaches to spiritual healing present in diverse forms including: faith healing; healing liturgies; anointing with oil; music; meditation; and the laying on of hands. Because of these complex and diverse presentations, spiritual healing pervades into many different disciplines including the arts, theology, psychology, biology, neurology, and s...

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[19] Eddy, 591.

[20] Paul Tillich, Systematic Theology Vol. II (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1957) 92.

[21] Tillich, Systematic Vol. II, 166.

[22] Ibid., 92.

[23] Paul Tillich, The New Being (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1955) 37.

[24] Tillich, New Being, 36.

[25] Ibid., 37.

[26] Ibid., 45.

[27] Ibid., 38.

[28] Ibid., 39.

[29] Ibid., 44.

[30] Tillich, Systematic Theology Vol. I (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1951) 116.

[31] Ibid., 117.

[32] Ibid.

[33] Karl Lehmann and Albert Raffelt, ed. and Harvey D. Egan trans. , The Content of Faith: The Best of Karl Rahner's Writings (New York: Crossroad Publishing Co., 1993) 73.

[34] Ibid., 142.

[35] Ibid., 143.

[36] Ibid., 142.

[37] Ibid., 74.

[38] Ibid., 81.

[39] Ibid., 275.

[40] Tillich, New Being, 37.

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