Religion and the Health of the Public : Shifting the Paradigm

The book proposes a critical theory of the role and place of religion in public health and argues for a programmatic reorientation of these two fields of practice and inquiry to more effectively align religious health assets - widely present in many contexts - and public health services and facilities. Religion and the Health of the Public fills a major gap in academic literature on religion and public health. Its innovative concepts provide a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding and working on the interface between religion and public health. It draws on global health history and practice - from London's 1854 cholera outbreak, to HIV in Africa today, to large and novel hospital and congregational partnerships in the Memphis. Calling for "deep accountability" by religious and public health leaders, it deals with the embodied religious mind, religious health assets, leading causes of life, boundary leadership, congregate strengths, and a healthy political economy - all in the service of transformation. "The book proposes a critical theory of the role and place of religion in public health. It aims at a programmatic reorientation of these two fields of practice and inquiry to more effectively align religious health assets--widely present in many contexts--and public health services and facilities. The first book of its kind, it contributes to a significant emerging global discourse on the role and place of religion in responding to major public health challenges" The Book Proposes A Critical Theory Of The Role And Place Of Religion In Public Health. It Aims At A Programmatic Reorientation Of These Two Fields Of Practice And Inquiry To More Effectively Align Religious Health Assets--widely Present In Many Contexts--and Public Health Services And Facilities. The First Book Of Its Kind, It Contributes To A Significant Emerging Global Discourse On The Role And Place Of Religion In Responding To Major Public Health Challenges-- Seeing Differently : Changing The Paradigm Of The Health Of The Public -- The Health Of The Public And The Religious Mind : Connections And Disconnections -- Religious Health Assets : What Religion Brings To Health Of The Public -- Leading Causes Of Life : Pathology In Its Place -- Seeking Health : Persons, Bodies, And Choices -- People Who Congregate : Building On Strengths -- Boundary Leadership : Embodying Complexity In Turbulence -- The Challenge Of Systems -- Religion And The Health Of The Public : Deep Accountability. Gary R. Gunderson And James R. Cochrane. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [197]-212) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xix Seeing Differently: Changing the Paradigm of the Health of the Public....Pages 1-19 The Health of the Public and the Religious Mind: Connections and Disconnections....Pages 21-39 Religious Health Assets: What Religion Brings to Health of the Public....Pages 41-58 Leading Causes of Life: Pathology in Its Place....Pages 59-79 Seeking Health: Persons, Bodies, and Choices....Pages 81-98 People Who Congregate: Building on Strengths....Pages 99-118 Boundary Leadership: Embodying Complexity in Turbulence....Pages 119-139 The Challenge of Systems....Pages 141-157 Religion and the Health of the Public: Deep Accountability....Pages 159-170 Back Matter....Pages 171-220 "The book proposes a critical theory of the role and place of religion in public health. It aims at a programmatic reorientation of these two fields of practice and inquiry to more effectively align religious health assets--widely present in many contexts--and public health services and facilities. The first book of its kind, it contributes to a significant emerging global discourse on the role and place of religion in responding to major public health challenges"-- Provided by publisher