Love in a time of Ebola: reflections on theology of medicine in resource-challenged environments
This paper presents a much needed (philosophical and) theological framework for the practice of Christian medicine in resource-challenged environments. While “health and healing” are often seen as determining the nature and goals of medicine, I believe that this distorts our understanding and practi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Health for All Nations
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Christian Journal for Global Health |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.cjgh.org/index.php/cjgh/article/view/101/303 |
| _version_ | 1818386639841394688 |
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| author | Andrew Sloane |
| author_facet | Andrew Sloane |
| author_sort | Andrew Sloane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents a much needed (philosophical and) theological framework for the practice of Christian medicine in resource-challenged environments. While “health and healing” are often seen as determining the nature and goals of medicine, I believe that this distorts our understanding and practice of medicine. Rather, medicine is about care: it is an expression of a community’s solidarity with people whose inherent vulnerability and finitude is exposed by the physical or psychological disruptions occasioned by disease, disability, or disaster; it aims to so care for them that their inherent worth as members of the human community is affirmed and that they are able to function well in community, where possible, and to the best of our ability in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. This both requires costly service in contexts of scarcity and informs the kind of care that ought to be provided to those in need. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:57:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9637b57ee0ab49e7b88847af60898852 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-2415 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:57:15Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Health for All Nations |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Christian Journal for Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9637b57ee0ab49e7b88847af608988522022-12-21T23:18:03ZengHealth for All NationsChristian Journal for Global Health2167-24152016-01-0131778510.15566/cjgh.v3i1.101101Love in a time of Ebola: reflections on theology of medicine in resource-challenged environmentsAndrew Sloane0MBBS, BTh, DipMin, ThD, Senior Lecturer in Old Testament and Christian Thought, Director of Post Graduate Studies; Morling College, Australia (Australian College of Theology and University of Divinity)This paper presents a much needed (philosophical and) theological framework for the practice of Christian medicine in resource-challenged environments. While “health and healing” are often seen as determining the nature and goals of medicine, I believe that this distorts our understanding and practice of medicine. Rather, medicine is about care: it is an expression of a community’s solidarity with people whose inherent vulnerability and finitude is exposed by the physical or psychological disruptions occasioned by disease, disability, or disaster; it aims to so care for them that their inherent worth as members of the human community is affirmed and that they are able to function well in community, where possible, and to the best of our ability in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. This both requires costly service in contexts of scarcity and informs the kind of care that ought to be provided to those in need.http://journal.cjgh.org/index.php/cjgh/article/view/101/303theologytheology of medicinescarcity |
| spellingShingle | Andrew Sloane Love in a time of Ebola: reflections on theology of medicine in resource-challenged environments Christian Journal for Global Health theology theology of medicine scarcity |
| title | Love in a time of Ebola: reflections on theology of medicine in resource-challenged environments |
| title_full | Love in a time of Ebola: reflections on theology of medicine in resource-challenged environments |
| title_fullStr | Love in a time of Ebola: reflections on theology of medicine in resource-challenged environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Love in a time of Ebola: reflections on theology of medicine in resource-challenged environments |
| title_short | Love in a time of Ebola: reflections on theology of medicine in resource-challenged environments |
| title_sort | love in a time of ebola reflections on theology of medicine in resource challenged environments |
| topic | theology theology of medicine scarcity |
| url | http://journal.cjgh.org/index.php/cjgh/article/view/101/303 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andrewsloane loveinatimeofebolareflectionsontheologyofmedicineinresourcechallengedenvironments |