Much of modern medicine overlooks the role of faith in the overall well-being of individuals, a sad remnant of the scientific revolution.  The origins of this view go all the way back to the Enlightenment era in Europe in the late 17th through early 19th centuries. 

In the 1600’s the formal study of the phenomena of the physical world began to permeate the scholars of society at the time.  What’s interesting is that many of these important scientific discoveries were made by deeply religious individuals. Sir Isaac Newton discovered laws of gravity and proposed properties of light, and many others followed with study that would be called ‘science’ by the 19th century.  

Prior to the 19th century, however, the word ‘science’ referred to any knowledge that was found through logic and reason, including theological and philosophical knowledge.  The term ‘science’ has now come to mean the application of human reason to the material world.  Yet, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that ‘science’ was separated from things like philosophy and theology to represent more of the study of the physical universe.  

While theology & philosophy were all once considered part of the larger whole of ‘science,’ many people today see the physical sciences as the single source of all truth, and this has bled over to exclude the impact of faith on health. 

While our post-modern society often views faith and reason as at odds to each other, the truth is that assumptions necessary for science to get off the ground have origins in Christian understanding.  Some leading historians propose that the Christian faith was central to the European culture that nurtured the environment and thinking necessary for modern science to emerge. 

For example, evolutionary anthropologist Loren Eiseley stated that “It is surely one of the curious paradoxes of history that science, which professionally has little to do with faith, owes its origins to an act of faith that the universe can be rationally interpreted, and that science today is sustained by that assumption.”(1)  Scientific investigation assumes that the universe is ordered and can be rationally studied, but a secular view discounts the origin of that order, which is God.

Sadly, the science of modern medicine has largely discounted the influence of faith and spirituality in the formal treatment of patients.  Yet there is extensive research that the practice of religion has a positive impact on a person’s mental and physical health.(2) 

Healthcare practitioners are encouraged to consider social determinants of health such as environment, education, transportation, employment, etc. While healthcare practitioners may be hesitant to ask about it, religion/spirituality is increasingly being recognized as a social determinant of health along with these other influences.(3)

The truth is that research shows that the practice of one’s faith provides meaning and a larger purpose, so nurturing faith as part of addressing a person’s health allows for treatment of the whole person. Studies also indicate that people who regularly attend religious services have less depression and anxiety, are less likely to smoke, less likely to abuse alcohol, and more likely to engage in healthy behaviors like exercise and healthful eating.(2)

Secular science has shown that poor mental health can impact the physical body through stress hormones and inflammation. Yet, the practice of one’s faith has been shown to play a role in positive coping for many people.(2) The mind and spirit have an effect on the physical body and ultimately our overall health. 

We need to take an approach to health that reintegrates faith and reason, acknowledging the effect of faith on the mind and physical body, along with the value of science in nurturing physical and mental health.  By reclaiming the interplay of faith & reason, healthcare professionals wishing to care for the whole person could incorporate the role of faith in the lives of patients, while also allowing individuals to harness the knowledge from medical science to improve their health.

We can take a note from Pope St. John Paul II, who stated that ‘faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.’(4) Medical practice and healthcare that values truth would acknowledge that both faith and reason can be used in care of the patient, allowing each person to soar to new heights of health and faith.

Written by Michele Suhie, PhD, NBC-HWC

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References:

1 Baglow, C.T. Faith, Science, & Reason. 2019. Midwest Theological Forum. p.32

2 Koenig H.G., VanderWeele T.J., & Peteet J.R. Handbook of Religion and Health, 3rd ed. 2024. Oxford University Press.

3 Long et al. Spirituality As A Determinant Of Health: Emerging Policies, Practices, And Systems. Health Affairs. 2024; 43(6) https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01643

4 Pope St. John Paul II. Fides et Ratio. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html

Image credit: Vladimir Mukhanov, image created with an assistance of AI - Creative Commons Attribution 4.0