ENLARGING THE INTERDISCIPLINARY CIRCLE: JOAN KOSS-CHIOINO'S AND PHILIP HEFNER'S APPROACH TO SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION AND HEALING

Author: Reich, K. Helmut

Source: Zygon, Volume 42, Number 2, June 2007 , pp. 553-560(8)

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Abstract:

In the current scientific age there exists in academia a certain reservation regarding, even a fear of contact with, controversial issues such as faith healing or shamanism or even spiritual transformation. Although classical medicine, neurobiology, and possibly even social circumstances and forces are recognized, researching the controversial issues evoked may be frowned upon and even be risky for one's academic career. Fortunately, Joan Koss-Chioino, Philip Hefner, and their colleagues (anthropologists, artists, neuroscientists, physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists, theologians, and others) have not shrunk from doing so. The result, reviewed here in some detail, goes beyond what is common knowledge and points the way to further beneficial insights via open-minded interdisciplinary research.

Keywords: anthropology; Christianity; clinical experiences; healing; interdisciplinarity; neuroscience; psychology; religion; research methodology; science and religion; shamanism; spiritual transformation; theology

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2007.00553.x

Affiliations: 1: Professor in the School of Consciousness Studies and Sacred Traditions, Rutherford University, and Senior Research Fellow Emeritus, University of Fribourg. His mailing address is Route des Chemins de Fer 3, CH-1823 GLION (Switzerland);, Email: he

Publication date: 2007-06-01