Gift or a Given?: A Theology of Healing for the 21st Century

By: John P. Atkinson

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Synopsis: Most books on the topic of spiritual healing focus on practical aspects of services and liturgies and on testimonies of miraculous cures. Starting from an acceptance of the reality of healing in personal experience the author attempts to unpack the theological implications of what he has seen and done. He comes to the conclusion that the usual focus of the church on healing as a charismatic gift from an interventionist God is a distraction from the presence of healing throughout the natural world and human life. He sees healing as a perspective, which can also be extended to inter-faith dialogue and the world of politics and the environment. Finally, he provides a practical example of how such a perspective can be applied in the life of the worshipping community.