Review article
https://doi.org/10.31823/d.25.4.6
The Theological-Anthropological Dimension of Health. The Christian Contribution to the Contemporary Understanding of Health
Antun Japundžić
orcid.org/0000-0003-4849-0101
; Catholic Faculty of Theology in Đakovo, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Đakovo, Croatia
Richard Pavlić
orcid.org/0000-0002-4403-7062
; Theology of Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
The article deals with the Christian understanding of health. The first part of the article points to the basics of the biblical understanding of health with the emphasis on the New Testament perspective. It is followed by a theological-anthropological reflection according to which the theological understanding of man is taken as the point of reference for the Christian understanding of health. Here, the particular Christian understanding of man is emphasised in his initial and final theological determination. In accordance with that, man’s health is observed in its eschatological perspective as a continuous process that involves both man’s earthly and final determination. Hereby the concept of health comes very close to the Christian notion of salvation. In the light of these postulations, the final part of the article examines the actuality of the Christian approach to health, in the context of a comprehensive approach to health, the negative influence of sin, the social responsibility and the therapeutic mission of the Church.
Keywords
health; disease; healing; salvation; theological anthropology
Hrčak ID:
190826
URI
Publication date:
18.12.2017.
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