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 Discussion of Spirituality, Religion and Healing
 Historically,
there was a close connection between spirituality and religion
and healing. Sickness has been described as “a disturbance
in relationships” with
early people believing in a relationship between humans and the
cosmos. A disturbance in this relationship required a healing
role fulfilled by a shaman, thus demonstrating that “healing
was a religious act” (Sulmasy 2002). Salmasy goes on to
describe how “scientific healing” also restores relationships,
but on a physical, “intrapersonal” level
between body parts, organs, physiological functions, and biochemical
processes within a mind-body context.
However, for the individual, illness can also cause a disturbance on the “extrapersonal” level, which includes not only the physical environment, family and social network, but also the patient’s relationship with the “transcendent.” Sulmasy (2002). Salmasy (2002:29) presents a diagram of a biopsychosocial-spiritual model including spiritual interventions for patients at the end of life, but the model can be applied in a wider sense to more types of health and mental health conditions. Physical and emotional distresses are usually the ones that generate the most attention. However, for some, spiritual distress can present as physical symptoms and the healing and support process may benefit from attention to this aspect as part of holistic care.
In a number of cultures, healing is viewed as restoring balance—balance within the individual’s body, balance between the individual and his or her community or balance of the community with the universe at large. The individual’s illness may be perceived as a sign of community imbalance or sin or misdeeds.
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