The Church and Healing

Course Description

The subject PAL2010E The Church and Healing provides a practical introduction to the healing ministry, which is part of the task of the church. It will provide a broad description of different theological approaches to the topics of health and healing, and the consequences these may have for such a ministry. The subject also discusses the relationship between medical science and healing by prayer. Moreover, there will be a practical introduction to the various models of prayer for the sick.

Learning Outcomes

A student who has completed the course of PAL2010E The Church and Healing should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

KNOWLEDGE

The student:

• has gained good knowledge of the New Testament background for the church’s healing ministry
• has knowledge of different approaches to the church’s healing ministry based on Catholic, Evangelical, liberal and classical Pentecostal theology
• has good knowledge of recent Pentecostal and charismatic healing theology
• has knowledge of the discussion of questions related to scientific investigation of healing by prayer.

SKILLS

The student:

• is capable of reflecting theologically over the church’s healing practice
• has developed the ability to reflect theologically and philosophically over the relationship between medical science and healing by prayer.

GENERAL COMPETENCE

The student:

• has developed a coherent theological perspective on the relationship between illness and healing, faith and medical research.
• has gained practical knowledge of various models of prayer for healing

Modes of Instruction

Instruction will occur through the use of interactive lectures on campus, online lectures, and independent study of course literature and online group discussion.

Required Reading

Andersen, Ø.G. (2020). “Healing and Preaching: The eschatological and legitimizing perspectives on healing constitute a unity that has important implications for the Church” in Scandinavian Journal for Leadership and Theology, Vol. 7, https://doi.org/10.53311/sjlt.v7.47, (20 pages)

Andersen, Ø.G. (2023). “Do Healings Confirm the Truth of the Christian Gospel?” in Scandinavian Journal for Leadership and Theology, Vol. 10, https://doi.org/10.53311/sjlt.v10.87  (13 pages)

Brown, Candy Gunther (2012). Testing Prayer: Science and Healing. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univeristy Press, pp. 71-109, 129-162, 194-206, 215-222, 234-274 (130 pages)

Hiebert, Paul G. (1994). “The Flaw of the Excluded Middle,” in Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, pp. 189-202 (12 pages)

Keener, Craig S. (2021). Miracles Today: the supernatural work of God in the modern world. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, pp. 1-238

MacNutt, Francis (1999). Healing. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, pp. 17–236. (219 pages)

McIntyre, Joseph (2002). “Healing in Redemption”, Refleks 1/2, pp. 20–35 (15 pages)

Wimber, John and Springer, Kevin (2009). Power Evangelism. Bloomington, MN: Chosen Books, pp. 25 – 44, 74–93, 129–230 (139 pages)

Wimber, John (1986). Power Healing. San Francisco: Harper, pp. 164–171 (7 pages).