The Soul of Medicine: Spiritual Perspectives and Clinical Practice

6. Christianity

CHAPTER SIX Christianity John R. Knight, M.D., and Walter Kim, Ph.D. Since its inception in the early first century CE, Christianity has become a major global religion. It encompasses a heterogeneous group of cultures, geographical regions, and social strata; adherents now constitute nearly one-third of the world’s population. Within this vast network of forms, beliefs, and practices , Christianity is essentially a historical religion centering on the affirmation of God’s revelation through Jesus Christ. Its commitment to ethical monotheism entails the belief in a sole deity, who is not an abstract principle or inanimate force. He is a personal being with a mind and volition and a loving and just nature. God interacts generally with the world but has acted most decisively in the historical events surrounding the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Christianity’s historical perspective is evident in its sacred scripture, the Bible, which records and interprets God’s activity in the world. The Bible demonstrates that Christianity perceives itself as a revealed religion. In addition to divine engagement in history, God discloses or reveals his intentions and desires for the created order. Hence, Christian beliefs and practices flow from the Bible, which comprises two main sections. Christians refer to the Jewish Scrip- Christianity 97 tures as the “Old Testament.” These include the five books of Moses and the books of Israelite history, law, poetry, and prophecy. The Christian “New Testament ” includes the four gospels (narratives about the life and teachings of Jesus), a book of early church history, a group of letters written by early church leaders, and one book of prophecy. During the earliest centuries of their experience of God as revealed in Christ, church leaders reached consensus on a statement of faith, known as the Apostles’ Creed. Nevertheless, beliefs vary among three major branches: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant subdivisions are known as denominations (Fairchild 2009). Divisions among these groups are for the most part historic and based on differences in theology (i.e., beliefs) and liturgy (i.e., style of worship). Theology varies from liberal to conservative, and liturgy from orthodox to charismatic. Groups also vary in forms of church governance, from hierarchical rule by the clergy (e.g., Catholic, Episcopal) to democratic rule by the local church body (e.g., Congregational). Beliefs Although Christians interpret the Bible in various ways, most would agree that certain core beliefs constitute basic Christianity. 1. God intends men and women to be in a harmonious relationship with their creator, with one another, and with the created order. 2. Humankind, both corporately and individually, has broken faith with God’s original design. Consequently, we are in a state of “sin” and are thereby condemned to death (Romans 3:23, 6:23). 3. Because of great love for us, God responded by coming in the form of a man, Jesus Christ, and sacrificing his life to pay for the sins of all (John 3:16). 4. If we acknowledge our sins and believe in him, we receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. 5. With the resurrection of Jesus, God began a process of restoration in and through the followers of Jesus. For Christians, moral practice arises as a grateful response to God’s activity on behalf of the human predicament. Rather than demonstrating private or abstract virtue, ethical living expresses personal and communal devotion to Christ. In this respect, Christianity is not only a historical and revealed religion but 98 Major Traditions and Medicine also a relational religion. Belief and devotion revolve around entering into a relationship with God because God has sought out a relationship with humankind through Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, “We love, because God first loved us [in Christ]” (1 John 4:19). Practices Religious services vary widely among branches and denominations, but almost all churches assemble weekly on Sunday, which Christians remember as the day of Jesus’s resurrection. Some worship services (traditional) are highly stylized, with a set order of hymn singing, scripture reading, group recitations of scripted prayers, and clergy homilies (sermons). Other services (contemporary ) may use rock bands, dance, and theatrical presentations to deliver the Christian message. Still others (charismatic) have no set agenda but depend on the “holy spirit” to lead the congregation in spontaneous singing, prayer, teaching, and speaking in “tongues,” or prophecies (1 Corinthians 12:7–10). These practices are not mutually exclusive; some churches incorporate diverse...