• articles,  cultural competency,  healthcare,  holistic approach,  readings,  spirituality

    Notes on the article by Joseph A. Adepoju “A Study of Health Beliefs and Practices of the Yoruba”

    The study presented in the article describes in full the dualistic approach to treating illness. We see how the spiritual and physical treatments become complementary to each other within the Yoruba community. This approach is common not only for the immigrant community but also to the Yoruba living in Nigeria – there are always two sides seen in an illness – a physical and a spiritual, and both must be treated with equal importance. The holistic approach to healing in the Yoruba community is described in the quote below: “The practice of magic and medicine is comprehensive and holistic in nature and encompasses the healing of the body, mind and…

  • articles,  book review,  cultural competency,  readings,  religion

    Notes on the article by William R. LaFleur “Body”

    “Critical Terms for Religious Studies” edited by Mark C. Taylor This work is dedicated to the exploration of the relationship between religion and body. First of all, LaFleur provides a short overview on the history of this relationship. We see that while most cultured initially insisted on accepting our bodies the way they were (given to us by God), there have also been many physical alterations made to the bodies throughout history on the basis of religious belief. While Christianity has been taking pride in  being the one religion that does not promote any changes in the body, it was the first one to apply the term corpses, meaning that…