The Christian Attitude towards Health in John Paul II's Teaching
Abstract
The issue of health is generally considered to be a domain of medicine. It has to be noted, however, that the conception of medicine is closely connected with the understanding of man's nature. A human person is the place where medicine and theology meet. Theology, drawing on Divine Revelation, brings the truth about the essence of man's nature, and this is why it can influence the way health is understood and the way medicine is practiced. The article presents chosen medical conceptions of health – the bio-medical model and the holistic one, as well as the understanding of health in the theological perspective – mainly on the basis of John Paul II's teaching (Christian personalistic anthropology). The Christian attitude towards health should be characterized by contemplation of the gift of life, by an ancillary love of the neighbor resulting from love of God, by perception of suffering as a place where God's visit is experienced and as participation in redeeming the world, as well as by hope that concern for life and health is a forecast of resurrection and glory in the eternal life.
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