The Spiritual Dimension of Care

A holistic approach to healthcare can be found in the WHO that is increasingly recognizing the importance of the spiritual dimension of care. The ‘Communities of Practice’ model recognizes the valuable role inter-faith groups that are key partners for promoting global health. In our quest for health and wholeness, integral approaches can support the development of holistic practices. Holism is expressed in philosophic discourses that support the principles of Naturopathic Medicine that are rooted in Traditional European Medicine. Saint Hildegard von Bingen’s lifework provides an example of the pillars that have traditionally supported wellbeing.
 
Following World War II, a humanitarian philosophy was articulated by the United Nations to bring hope and consolation to the world following a period of great destruction and loss of lives. The Spirit of Global Health, The World Health Organization and the ‘Spiritual Dimension’ of Health, 1946-2021, documents the conceptualization of the WHO’s approach to the spiritual dimension of healthcare. I have included the book in this blog for my readership.
 
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO reached out to inter-faith groups to reinforce partnerships, as the majority of the world’s citizens are members of religious communities. The importance of collaborating and building strong relationships with communities of faith was part of the WHO’s response that was facing a global crisis in the form of a pandemic. The pandemic allowed world citizens to become aware of the increasing influence of health policy on their daily lives. Here is a quote that addresses global crisis from The Spirit of Global Health, The World Health Organization and the ‘Spiritual Dimension’ of Health, 1946-2021:

Commitment to the common good of global health itself draws on spiritual sources. In the face of intensifying global threats, this broadening of the horizon is likely to become even more important. The inclusion of a ‘spiritual dimension’ is not a spillover of late-modern healthcare, but may be a part of the solution in a time of global crisis. The idea of being one and whole as an individual or as a community, on a local or a global level, is at its core a spiritual one, and it is at the heart of the health organization that this book takes as its subject. It is entirely appropriate that its name recalls the world that is the shared habitat of the global community (Peng-Keller & Winiger, 2022, p.218).

When spiritual well-being is understood as an important factor in well-being, spiritual care becomes an essential practice, accompanying people on pathways to wholeness. Biomedical models can integrate traditional medicine and spiritual care. Interconnecting models and approaches gives rise to Integrative Medicine. This holistic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, and soul. Traditional and complementary medicine are vital resources that can be used to combat chronic health problems associated with aging. Local healers can provide appropriate care that is adapted to the social and economic circumstances of communities, drawing upon living wisdom. Cross-cultural education can help to bridge traditional and biomedical approaches, co-constructing shared knowledgeability. By fostering Intercultural and interfaith dialogue, the global community can move towards a culture of care and planetary wellness.
 
As we face global crises, spiritual care can reinforce global health initiatives, uniting communities of practice in the universal search for human flourishing. Swiss leadership has historically shaped this holistic vision. Here is a quote from Professor Winiger:
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A world health organization built through dialogue across cultures and ideologies ceases to be perceived as a distant bureaucracy fighting a weary battle against ‘dangers and enemies’—to borrow the words of the Swiss Federal Councillor Philippe Etter, who first used the term ‘spiritual’ in the WHO’s inaugural assembly (see Chapter 2). Instead, it can serve as a bridge based on shared, universal human interests: health, happiness, a sense of well-being, growth, and contribution to our planet. It can partake, to echo Etter once more, in the global task, no less urgent now than in the post-war period when the WHO was founded: to promote the ‘whole human being in his physical, spiritual, moral and social power’ (Winiger, 2022 ,p. 230)

The whole human being is understood to be multi-dimension, comprised of the physical dimension, the spiritual dimension, the moral dimension, and imbued with social power. Spirituality can be understood as a resource that increases resiliency, empowerment individuals and communities. Love for the common good is necessary to maintain human freedoms. A culture of encounter allows us to give value to differences, while seeking to build friendships and partnerships. Dialogue is essential if we are to find common ground to co-construct a hopeful future. Envisioning a world built upon social justice and care for our common home is possible, especially when we dream together, bringing heaven to Earth in a shared vision of the good life. Pope Francis went before the United States’ Congress to advocate for a Culture of Care in 2015. Here is the transcript of his speech:  ​https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/transcript-pope-franciss-speech-to-congress/2015/09/24/6d7d7ac8-62bf-11e5-8e9e-dce8a2a2a679_story.html

We can use our social power to advocate for a Culture of Care and a Culture of Encounter that recognizes the spiritual dimension inherent in holistic approaches and integrative medicine. Wholeness also requires an ecological approach to healthcare that is dedicated to preserving our common home.