Jesus as Healer in the Gospel of Matthew, Part II: Jesus as Healer in Matthew 8–9

This exploration of the healing narratives in Matthew 8 and 9, guided by current scholarship in the fields of medical anthropology and social-scientific study of ancient Mediterranean culture, shows that when viewed in their historical and cultural context these biblical narratives point us toward a more holistic understanding of healing that may encourage contemporary movements in this direction. In this context, the goal is ‘healing’ the person rather than simply ‘curing’ the disease. The goal of restoring persons to a state of well-being and social reintegration into their families and communities requires attention to the emotional, social and spiritual well-being of persons as well as their physical health. A critically and culturally informed interpretation of Matthew’s healing narratives may therefore promote the broader understanding of healing in view of these biblical stories.

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Jesus as healer in the Gospel of Matthew, part 1: Methodology

In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi ◽

10.4102/ids.v50i1.2115 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Richard A. Culpepper

Keyword(s):

Cultural Context ◽

Gospel Of Matthew ◽

Well Being ◽

Social Scientific Study ◽

Biblical Narratives ◽

Mediterranean Culture ◽

Holistic Understanding ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Social Scientific ◽

Healing Narratives

This exploration of the healing narratives in Matthew 8 and 9, guided by current scholarship in the fields of medical anthropology and social-scientific study of ancient Mediterranean culture, shows that when viewed in their historical and cultural context these biblical narratives point toward a more holistic understanding of healing that may encourage contemporary movements in this direction. In this context, the goal is ‘healing’ the person rather than simply ‘curing’ the disease. The goal of restoring persons to a state of well-being and social reintegration into their families and communities requires attention to the emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of persons as well as their physical health. A critically and culturally informed interpretation of Matthew’s healing narratives may therefore promote the broader understanding of healing in view in these biblical stories.

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The Validation of a Spanish Version of the Multidimensional Inventory of Religious/Spiritual Well-Being in Mexican College Students

The Spanish Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1017/sjp.2016.9 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Daniela Berger ◽

Andreas Fink ◽

Maria Margarita Perez Gomez ◽

Andrew Lewis ◽

Human-Friedrich Unterrainer

Keyword(s):

Cultural Context ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Factor Solution ◽

Public And Private ◽

Mexican Culture ◽

Evidential Support ◽

Reliable Instrument ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Western European

AbstractAfter the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being (MI-RSWB) was validated as a reliable instrument for the Western European context it is primarily intended in this study to translate the measure into Spanish and adapt it for the Mexican culture. Furthermore we investigate whether spirituality/religiosity has a similar impact on indicators of personality and subjective well-being in Mexico as it does in samples drawn from Western European cultures. 190 students (99 females) from public and private universities in Guadalajara, all Mexican citizens, were involved in this study. We found strong evidential support for the six factor solution of the Original MI-RSWB in this Mexican population. By mirroring previous research the measure showed a highly satisfying internal consistency (α = .91 for the total score and .75 or higher for all six sub dimensions). Furthermore the total RSWB score was observed to be related with Eysenck’s personality dimensions Extraversion (r = .24, p < .01), and Psychoticism (r = –.28, p < .001), although not with Neuroticism. There was also a positive correlation with Sense of Coherence (r = .31, p < .001). In conclusion, the dimensionality of RSWB and its associations with personality and subjective well-being was well supported in this first application within a Mexican cultural context.

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Plant Exchange Networks and their Importance in Mbyá-Guarani Medicine in Southern Brazil

10.21203/rs.3.rs-136023/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Julian Henrique Carlotto de Andrade ◽

José Rodrigues ◽

André Benites ◽

Cornélio Benites ◽

Arlindo Acosta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Cultural Landscape ◽

Well Being ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Exchange Networks ◽

Holistic Understanding ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Kinship Relations ◽

Indigenous Territories ◽

Mbya Guarani

Abstract Background: Experts in the Atlantic Forest, the Guarani people have the habit of transporting and exchanging plants due to their mobility throughout the territory. Historically, this habit contributed to the species composition and diversification among different phytophysiognomies that comprise the Atlantic Forest. Medicine and spirituality are traits that stand out within the Guarani culture, which is based on a holistic understanding of physical and spiritual well-being for the person’s health. To achieve this balance, they use a range of native and adapted plant species. Our goal is to understand some of the Guarani contributions to the cultural landscape in the Atlantic Forest. We also investigate whether kinship relations can facilite plant exchanges used in medicinal or mystical contexts between Guarani people. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with key persons asking about the importance of forest environments for Guarani health and about visits to other Guarani villages and plants exchanged. Results: We visited seven Guarani Indigenous Territories in south Brazil, and with the participation of 12 respondents, we registered 27 species that were exchanged through different phytophysiognomies in the Atlantic Forest. These results show an intense movement of plants currently occurring between villages and the importance of these movements for both individual health and the integrity of the environments in which the Guarani villages are inserted. Conclusions: We observed a search for the recomposition of traditional species in the Guarani medical system, and we highlight the fundamental role of Guarani management in the conservation of the southern Atlantic Forest in indigenous territories.

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Notes on current Mbyá-Guarani medicinal plant exchanges in southern Brazil

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine ◽

10.1186/s13002-021-00465-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Julian Henrique Carlotto de Andrade ◽

José Rodrigues ◽

André Benites ◽

Cornélio Benites ◽

Arlindo Acosta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Cultural Landscape ◽

Well Being ◽

Bipartite Network ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Holistic Understanding ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Indigenous Territories ◽

Mbya Guarani

Abstract Background Experts in the Atlantic Forest, the Guarani people have the habit of transporting and exchanging plants due to their mobility throughout the territory. Historically, this habit contributed to the species composition and diversification among different phytophysiognomies that comprise the Atlantic Forest. Medicine and spirituality are traits that stand out within the Guarani culture, which is based on a holistic understanding of physical and spiritual well-being for the person’s health. To achieve this balance, they use a range of native and adapted plant species. Our goal is to understand some of the Guarani contributions to the cultural landscape in the Atlantic Forest. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with key persons asking about the importance of forest environments for Guarani health and about visits to other Guarani villages and plants exchanged. Data analysis was qualitative, and through a bipartite network of exchanged plants to show current plant exchanges between villages. Results We visited seven Guarani Indigenous Territories in south Brazil, and with the participation of 12 respondents, we registered 27 species that were exchanged through different phytophysiognomies in the Atlantic Forest. These results show an intense movement of plants currently occurring between villages and the importance of these movements for both individual health and the integrity of the environments in which the Guarani villages are inserted. Conclusions We observed a search for the maintenance of traditional species in the Guarani medical system, and we highlight the fundamental role of Guarani management in the conservation of the southern Atlantic Forest in indigenous territories.

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