title: Theological and scientific understandings of health.
abstract: A pilgrimage to discover the meaning of "health" within a Christian orientation begins with religious and scientific definitions of the term. The ideas of thinkers such as Tillich, Hiltner, Lapsley, and Illich are briefly explored, as is the unrealistic American insistence on complete and constant physical well-being. This leads to the consideration of a holistic concept of health and the suggestion of theological guidelines for a Christian approach to defining health.
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002835:Christianity; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine; D012068:Religion and Medicine