About this item
Highlights
- While the health of the body can be defined by its functioning parts and systems, the health of the person is more complex.
- About the Author: Tyler J. VanderWeele is the John L. Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and director of the Human Flourishing Program and co-director of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at Harvard University.
- 392 Pages
- Religion + Beliefs, Christian Theology
Description
Book Synopsis
While the health of the body can be defined by its functioning parts and systems, the health of the person is more complex. To flourish, we need to understand health in the context of God's intent.
A Theology of Health presents a Christian understanding of the very concept of health, both the health of the body and the health of the person. Preeminent scholar Tyler J. VanderWeele argues that health can be understood as wholeness as intended by God and that sin--whether individual wrongdoing, societal injustice, or the fallenness of creation--causes ill health. VanderWeele explains that restoration and fulfillment of health is salvation, pointed toward in the life of Jesus Christ, to be lived out through the work of the Church, and for which we await final completion. VanderWeele also demonstrates the broader relevance and implications of his insights to all who seek to understand health, well-being, and the ultimate ends of human life.
A Theology of Health is an essential theological exploration that seeks to promote health, healing, and flourishing of the whole person.
Review Quotes
"VanderWeele provides scholars in health-related fields with a robust, comprehensive, and theologically rich framework for understanding human flourishing." --The Gospel Coalition
"A watershed book. ... If this book is given its due, it could mark the beginning of a new and even stunning moment--one that makes space for explicitly theological ideas and reflection within the highest-level academic discussions of health." --Public Discourse
"This book does a great service to the fields of human health and theology by bringing the richness of both disciplines into deeper contact with the other. Tyler J. VanderWeele's comprehensive work expands our thinking in both disciplines and invites us all to consider new partners in the quest for human flourishing." --Michael Rozier, SJ, Saint Louis University
"The originality of this book lies in the union of philosophical and theological meanings of health in a comprehensive and empirically grounded account of human flourishing. The writing is clear and often elegant; the argument is persuasive, nuanced, and highly sophisticated." --Dominic F. Doyle, author of The Promise of Christian Humanism
"This remarkable book by a world-class research scientist will change your life forever by providing a deeper understanding of how faith and the application of moral values can impact health and flourishing in ways you may not have realized before. Don't miss out on this opportunity to grow both your mind and your spirit." --Harold G. Koenig, author of Religion and Mental Health
About the Author
Tyler J. VanderWeele is the John L. Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and director of the Human Flourishing Program and co-director of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at Harvard University. He is author and co-author of several books, including Measuring Well-Being and the Handbook of Religion and Health.