Routledge Handbook of Religion Medicine and Health

<p>The relationships between religion spirituality health biomedical institutions complementary and alternative healing systems are widely discussed today. While many of these debates revolve around the biomedical legitimacy of religious modes of healing the market for them continues to grow. <i>The Routledge Handbook of Religion Medicine and Health</i> is an outstanding reference source to the key topics problems and debates in this exciting subject and is the first collection of its kind. Comprising over thirty-five chapters by a team of international contributors the <i>Handbook</i> is divided into five parts:</p><ul> <li>Healing practices with religious roots and frames</li> <li>Religious actors in and around the medical field</li> <li>Organizing infrastructures of religion and medicine: pluralism and competition</li> <li>Boundary-making between religion and medicine</li> <li>Religion and epidemics</li> </ul><p>Within these sections central issues debates and problems are examined including health and healing religiosity spirituality biomedicine medicalization complementary medicine medical therapy efficacy agency and the nexus of body mind and spirit.</p><p><i>The Routledge Handbook of Religion Medicine and Health</i> is essential reading for students and researchers in religious studies. The <i>Handbook</i> will also be very useful for those in related fields such as sociology anthropology and medicine.</p>