TY - JOUR

T1 - Religion and spirituality in contemporary health systems

AU - Stripp, Tobias Anker

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2023.

PY - 2023/9/1

Y1 - 2023/9/1

N2 - Historically, religious institutions and healthcare systems have been inseparable, but they are often segregated in contemporary (post-)secular societies. A growing body of high-quality evidence from quantitative epidemiological studies during the last decade shows robust health benefits from religious and spiritual practices or conditions such as regularly attending religious services or having a sense of meaning and purpose. The potential public health implications of this evidence are a delicate matter. One might argue that, given the current evidence, it is unethical not to support citizens’ search for meaning and purpose on a structural level – irrespective of whether that search is related to the transcendent or not. While it is not feasible to ‘prescribe religion’ to improve health, current religious and spiritual institutions might be essential in providing a contemporary and relevant space for existential, spiritual and religious contemplation in secular cultures. But how can that be attained? Starting from international research on religion, spirituality and health, this article discusses potential implications for public health in relation to religious institutions in a secular culture.

AB - Historically, religious institutions and healthcare systems have been inseparable, but they are often segregated in contemporary (post-)secular societies. A growing body of high-quality evidence from quantitative epidemiological studies during the last decade shows robust health benefits from religious and spiritual practices or conditions such as regularly attending religious services or having a sense of meaning and purpose. The potential public health implications of this evidence are a delicate matter. One might argue that, given the current evidence, it is unethical not to support citizens’ search for meaning and purpose on a structural level – irrespective of whether that search is related to the transcendent or not. While it is not feasible to ‘prescribe religion’ to improve health, current religious and spiritual institutions might be essential in providing a contemporary and relevant space for existential, spiritual and religious contemplation in secular cultures. But how can that be attained? Starting from international research on religion, spirituality and health, this article discusses potential implications for public health in relation to religious institutions in a secular culture.

KW - Christianity

KW - existential

KW - post-secular religion

KW - secular

KW - spiritual care

KW - spirituality

U2 - 10.1177/0040571X231194978

DO - 10.1177/0040571X231194978

M3 - Journal article

VL - 126

SP - 343

EP - 349

JO - Theology

JF - Theology

SN - 0040-571X

IS - 5

ER -