International and Domestic Documents Related to Spirituality and Religion and Health

1. The Constitution of the World Health Organization (1946, Article 80) provides a commonly used definition of health that does not include spirituality. In 1998, two changes were proposed to the definition of health, adding in the word “dynamic” and including a fourth domain of health - spirituality. It would then have read: “Health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity” (U Than Sein).

The Executive Board at first adopted this revised definition, but then a committee of the World Assembly in May 1999 decided not to consider proposed amendments to the Constitution. For a critique of the WHO definition of health, refer to Bok (2004).

2. The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development. “Protecting and Promoting Human Health,” (Agenda 21, Chapter 6.23) asserts the rights of individuals to develop their “full potential (including healthy physical, mental and spiritual development).”

3. In 1995, resulting from the World Summit for Social Development, the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development affirms, “We heads of State and Government are committed to a political, economic, ethical and spiritual vision for social development …”

4. In 2005, the Bangkok Charter for the Health Promotion in a Globalized World endorses a “positive and inclusive concept of health as a determinant of the quality of life and encompassing mental and spiritual well-being.”

5. Marty, M. Solberg, M. and Pittman, S. (ed.) (1990). Healthy People 2000: A Role for America's Religious Communities. Emory University. Carter Center; Park Ridge Center, IL. The authors demonstrate and advocate for the use of faith communities to promote health in order to reach the goals of Healthy People 2000.

References and Resources for International and Domestic Documents Related to Spirituality and Religion and Health