Problems of Healing in Religious Literature, with Special Reference to the Healing Techniques of Jesus of Nazareth: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Our personal knowledge of faith healing Missions and practices in New Zealand go back to 1929 when Mr. Dallimore was arousing keen public interest in Auckland with his Revival Fire campaign. Since that time our interest in faith healing has been maintained with the hope that some day, it would be possible to examine the claims made by faith healers that their cures were in accordance with the commands of the Christian Gospel. To the onlooker, certain features of this healing work seemed far from convincing. Our opportunity came to take up this investigation, when it was being asserted at a university level within our hearing, that only trained psychiatrists were qualified to deal with psychological disorders, and that religious methods of dealing with such disorders were mere "quackery." It has been the task of this thesis to test this charge of "quackery" levelled at religious healing practices, and to see whether or not there was any truth in this charge, or, whether or not, a case could be made in support of religious or spiritual healing. The thesis covers a wide range of subject matter, and although we have consulted many religious healing movements across the world, special reference has been made to the present healing movements within New Zealand, as it was considered that any propositions put forward as a result of this research should be primarily addressed this Country in relation to healing work as a whole.