Magical and Theological Aspects of Folk Medicine
Keywords:
folk medicine; folk devotion; folk ontology; magical text formulae; rites performed by the healer; transspheric communication; dichotomic vision of the universe
Abstract
This paper is interdisciplinary in its approach. Its objective is to present traditional and theological aspects of folk medicine, so closely related to the faith and devotion of the rural communities. The authors present a variety of folk therapeutic practices, diagnosis and etiology of diseased. They also analyse the intrinsic logic of the speech and gestures used in the healing actions. The authors try to identify the Christian and the pagan (including magical) elements used in the healing rites and show the importance of folk medicine for theology as an academic discipline but also for the pastoral practice of the Church.
