Holistic health and well-being: A psycho-spiritual/religious and theological perspective

Abstract

Neuro-biological studies have established the perennial teaching of all the world's religious traditions that human persons are primarily religious/spiritual beings. They confirm that religion and spirituality are hardwired into the human brain and into human nature. The transcendental dimension of human nature demands that progress in man's ethical formation and inner growth is the most essential aspect of holistic health. Their experience of the divine led the Hindu sages to commit themselves to establish peace, happiness and well-being for all the human family and the universe. Judeo-Christian theology advocates that human beings created in the image of God have potential for theocentric-transcendence. Catholic theologians like St. Augustine propose that God has made humans for himself and that their hearts are restless until they rest in him.

With the revolutionary shift in recent years from attacking faith and religion to the exploration of the benefits of spirituality and religion for human flourishing, the outstanding themes of Christian theology and other religious traditions became topics of research in health sciences. Interdisciplinary interaction will result in attaining a profound understanding of the human person and help him/her to achieve lasting fulfilment by adequately paying attention to the transcendental, religious and spiritual needs.

Introduction

Humans are multi-dimensional and transcendental beings. They are not only psycho-physical and socio-cultural but they are primarily religious-spiritual and moral beings. Victor Frankl suggests that humans find fulfillment only when their needs for meaning and purpose are adequately met (Frankl, 2006, Frankl, 1986). Similarly, an increasing body of research asserts that materialism, the pursuit of worldly possessions and wealth, does not give lasting happiness and fulfillment. Instead, it increases people's dissatisfaction, depression, anxiety, anger, isolation and alienation (Kasser, 2002, Eckersley, 2005).

Answering the ultimate questions about the meaning and purpose of human life is beyond the scope of science and technology (Jaki, 2000). Technological and economic advances are neither the driving forces nor the guarantee of human progress. Integral/holistic human development is pertinent to achieving a sustainable future (Morin, 1999). Internal formation is an essential aspect of holistic health and well-being. Pope Benedict XVI articulated that technical progress must equate to corresponding progress in man's ethical formation and in his inner growth (Benedict XVI, 2007b, Spe salvi, No. 22).