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01-06-2017 | Philosophical Exploration

Religion and Public Health: Moral Tradition as Both Problem and Solution

Author: Michael Rozier

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 3/2017

Abstract

Despite strong religious influence in the development of medicine and medical ethics, religion has been relatively absent in the rise of preventive medicine and population health. Episodic, clinical medicine has a powerful hold on the religious imagination in health care. Nevertheless, Hebrew Scripture, elements of rabbinical teaching, and modern concepts of social justice all can be used to inspire action in health care that goes beyond clinical medicine. The Christian tradition can call upon the corporal works of mercy, virtue ethics, and Catholic social teaching, as well as the modern history Catholic sisters in the U.S. to do the same. By considering the moral imperative for public health, Jewish and Christian individuals and organizations reaffirm the notion that the human person is both sacred and social. This article suggests a need for religious traditions to consider their moral traditions anew with an eye toward prevention and population health.

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Title: Religion and Public Health: Moral Tradition as Both Problem and Solution
Author: Michael Rozier
Publication date: 01-06-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 3/2017
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0357-5

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Religion and Public Health: Moral Tradition as Both Problem and Solution

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