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SPIRITUALITY, MEDICAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH: THE SPIRITUAL EFFECTS OF A SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALING IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH by Marlene Lorraine Martin submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Theology In the subject Christian Spirituality at the University of South Africa Supervisor: Professor C.J. Lombaard November 2013 . 1 CONTENTS ABSTRACT KEY WORDS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1 THEME OF THE DISSERTATION 9 Introduction to chapter 1 9 1.1 Objective of the study of entitlement and the problem outlined 10 1.1.1 Background to the research 10 1.1.2 Research problem 14 1.1.3 Objectives and aims of the research 14 1.1.4 Placing the study in the Spirituality Discipline 15 1.1.5 Discussion of the spirit of entitlement 16 1.1.6. Discussion of spiritual and physical duality of humanity 17 1.2 Description of terms 19 1.2.1 Christian Spirituality 19 1.2.1.1 Spirituality as a human sense 21 1.2.2 Divine healing 22 1.2.3 Entitlement 25 1.2.4 Pathology / Physiology 27 1.3 Literature reviewed 28 1.4 Research framework and methodology 29 1.4.1 Scope of the research 29 1.4.2 Research fields 30 1.4.3 Positionality 31 1.4.4 Focus on pastors 32 1.5 Methodology 33 1.6 Qualitative research 37 1.6.1 Purpose 37 1.6.2 Ethical considerations 38 1.6.3 Methods 41 1.6.4 Process 41 1.6.4.1 Interviews 42 1.6.4.1.1 Interviews related to child research 42 1.6.4.1.2 Interviews related to the elderly 43 1.6.4.2 Direct observation 45 1.6.4.3 Participant observation 45 1.6.5 Interpretation of the data 46 1.6.6 Limitations of the research 46 1.7 Contribution of the study 47 1.8 Outline of chapters 48 Summary of chapter 1 49 2 SPIRITUALITY 51 Introduction to chapter 2 51 2.1 Introduction 51 2.2 Definition and classification of spirituality 52 . 2 2.3 Spirituality as a human trait 55 2.4 The influence of spirituality in human history 57 2.5 Current theories and trends 62 Summary of chapter 2 68 3 HUMAN TEMPORALITY 70 Introduction to chapter 3 70 3.1 The inevitability of physical decline and death 72 3.2 Medicine and spirituality 72 3.2.1 Human paradigms, superstition and hidden agendas 77 3.2.2 Spirituality and psychology 81 3.3 Alternative medicines and quackery 83 3.4 A brief overview of modern medicine 85 3.5 Basic physiology 89 3.5.1 Introduction 89 3.5.2 Cellular function 90 3.5.3 Immunity and allergy 90 3.5.4 Vaccines 90 3.6 Systematic pathology 91 3.6.1 Definition 91 3.6.2 Cancer 92 3.6.3 Lifestyle diseases 94 3.6.3.1 Drug and alcohol abuse 95 3.6.3.1.1 Alcohol abuse 95 3.6.3.1.2 Drug abuse 96 3.6.3.2 Obesity 98 3.6.3.3 Diabetes 99 3.6.3.4 Auto immune disease 100 3.7 Conclusion 101 Summary of chapter 3 101 4 ENTITLEMENT AS A HUMAN TRAIT 102 Introduction to chapter 4 102 4.1 Entitlement 102 4.2 Narcissism 103 4.2.1 Definition 103 4.2.2 Characteristics 105 4.2.3 Causes 105 4.2.4 Pathogenesis 108 4.2.5 Conclusions 115 4.3 Ingratitude 116 4.4 Economic consequences of entitlement 118 4.5 Entitlement from a Biblical perspective 122 4.6 Summary and conclusions 125 4.6.1 Narcissism 125 4.6.2 Entitlement 126 4.6.3 Ingratitude 127 4.6.4 Conclusion ` 128 Summary of chapter 4 129 . 3 5 RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS 131 Introduction to chapter 5 131 5.1 Outline of chapter 131 5.2 Background of the two cases selected for the study 136 5.3 Factors influencing methodology 138 5.4 Factors influencing the pastors’ response 140 5.4.1 Entitlement as a human characteristic 142 5.4.2 Teaching that encourages a sense of entitlement 144 5.5 Factors influencing human responses to the realities of disease and death 156 5.5.1 Age 157 5.5.2 Gender 161 5.5.3 Ethnic factors 162 5.5.4 Education 166 5.6 An examination of the importance of a ministry of healing in both case studies 170 5.6.1 Prayers in services and invitations for prayers during the services 172 5.6.2 Hospital and hospice visits 175 5.7 An examination of the consequences of unmet expectations 176 5.7.1 Apostasy 179 5.7.2 Guilt 182 5.7.3 Estrangement from and blaming of the pastor 182 5.7.4 Spiritual decline 183 5.8 Conclusion 186 Summary of chapter 5 6 SPIRITUAL EFFECTS OF MEDICAL CRISIS 190 Introduction to chapter 6 190 6.1 Sense of abandonment 190 6.2 Spiritual hope in times of medical crisis 192 6.3 Spiritual symptoms of loss of hope 197 6.4 Spiritual promise in times of medical crisis 199 6.5 Conclusion 200 Summary of chapter 6 201 7 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 202 Introduction to chapter 7 202 7.1 Summary 203 7.1.1 Spiritual results of entitlement for pastors 203 7.1.2 Spiritual results of entitlement for the sick 207 7.2 Conclusion 211 8 THE WAY FORWARD 215 Introduction to chapter 8 215 8.1 Focus on the disenfranchised 215 8.1.1 Children 215 8.1.2 The elderly 216 8.2 Burnout 217 8.3 Formalised teaching on divine healing 217 8.4 Conclusion 218 . 4 BIBLIOGRAPHY 220 APPENDIX 1 Aim of Pastor interviews 243 2 Social effects of a fatherless generation 244 3 Statement of Faith Methodist Church of Southern Africa 248 4 Statement of Faith Afmin African Ministries Network 250 . 5 ABSTRACT The human trait of entitlement, although currently very topical, has only recently come under serious scrutiny by behavioural psychologists (Campbell, Bonacci, Shelton, Exline & Bushman 2004:30). This study examines the modifying effects of these psychological elements on the spiritual aspects of disease and healing. Other modifiers are the personal spiritual beliefs or dogmas of the clergy within the paradigm of a particular denomination, and the beliefs and expectations of the adherents. Two Christian denominations were chosen for the study: The Methodist Church of Southern Africa, in particular the home church of the writer, The Bedfordview Methodist Church, and Afmin, an organisation that trains and equips students, mainly African, for Christian ministry. Structured face to face interviews were conducted with pastors and church leaders, interviews with medical professionals were conducted and a wide ranging review of relevant literature undertaken. It was found that while the trait of entitlement was a constant in human nature, there were modifying factors. These included the personal beliefs of pastors and youth leaders, often founded on personal experience instead of denominational dogma. The influence of Pentecostal / Charismatic teaching was very evident. It was also found that the church, in a drive to become increasingly relevant to current norms and social trends, tended to have a rather confused understanding of biblical healing and the role of God in disease and suffering. While the inevitability of death, suffering and disease cannot be denied, the role of the church is complex and controversial. Unrealistic expectations, based on teaching that encourages a sense of entitlement can lead to great challenges regarding faith in both the clergy and adherents. 6 KEY TERMS Spirituality, entitlement, narcissism, ingratitude, arrogance, pathology, physiology, physical, spiritual, medical, disease, illness, death, suffering, abandonment, ministry of healing, faith, prayer, Pentecostal, Charismatic, miracles, cures, healing, health. 7 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to express my gratitude to: 1. The people who were challenged by ill health, who granted me interviews and answered my questions frankly and openly and were not constrained by the trauma, both physical and emotional, of their illness. 2. The pastors and church leaders, as well as the pastoral students, who graciously co- operated in this research project. 3. Professor Christo Lombaard, whose guidance and advice not only steered me past many obstacles, but who embodies the concept of Christian spirituality. 4. The members of the medical profession who advised and informed me, and who displayed a keen fascination with the concepts under discussion. 8 1 THEME OF THE DISSERTATION Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 1 introduces and discusses the theme of this dissertation and suggests that Christian Spirituality has to do with the whole man1 as humanity struggles with physical decline as a natural consequence of the makeup of the human frame. Sickness, disease, suffering and death are not unique to Christians. Many people outside the Christian religion rail at circumstances that they perceive to have led to their fate when they become ill; they blame their partners, blame the environment, and accuse the medical fraternity of being inadequate or uncaring. Many who are not Christians believe that they have a right to challenge the God they never knew nor had they ever approached while they were not physically sick. Christians on the other hand frequently react differently; they look to a God that they have served, some all their lives, and petition and even frequently demand answers from Him for their plight.2 The research framework for this dissertation identified the starting point of the research problem as being a sense of entitlement to healing in the Christian Church and questioned whether this sense of entitlement had a negative effect on the spirituality of the sick that were not healed by God.