To Life, to Health
Religious communities have much to say about health and wellness
We are slowly emerging from the recent weeks of religious zeal. No, not Passover and Easter, but the “debate” on heath care reform. Now law, the issue moves on to be one of the battlefield issues for November. How sad that so many people’s health and lives will again be subjects of political folly and fortune.
So much of the political debate missed the very real discussions that need to be taking place on the state of health in our world. To this, let me suggest that religious communities have much to say. Not in a political way, but in a moral and ethical way. It is a voice that has been somewhat silent. So, let me use this little space to suggest that the time is very much at hand for churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious institutions to devote significant effort to creating text-based programs on the value of health and wellness.
My reason for mentioning this really comes from much of what I am seeing in my travels over the last few years. As part of the program on “sacred aging” I developed for the Union for Reform Judaism, I get to travel to many congregations to talk about issues related to aging, religion, spirituality, and baby boomers. Over the last years, issues of wellness and health have increasingly become part of the discussions. More and more older adults find that keeping their bodies moving and active adds to their sense of well-being. Likewise, the spirituality revolution that baby boomers have helped fashion has seen the creation of programs and classes in yoga and tai chi, as well as an increased awareness in how classic texts and traditions can teach lessons on health. Now, no doubt that this is a reflection on the desire to ward off our own aging, but so what!
What this awareness has begun to reflect is a growing appreciation for so many classic texts that, in a holistic fashion, understood centuries ago, the interaction of mind, body, and spirit. Much needs to be done in this area. Curricula must be developed that link basic religious principles with issues of health and wellness. The current “American” diet is killing too many of us. For no other reason than that, health and wellness awareness and education should be incorporated into our discussions.
Think about the possibilities of studying the texts of your faith with an eye to creating a guide for healthy living. Think of how many people can be reached with a new understanding of how relevant texts can be in their lives. Why not consider having this discussion with the leadership of your religious institution? You never know how healthy that may be.
L’chaim! To life! To your health!
Shalom.
Published April 5, 2010
