Faith Healing Practices: A Complementary and Alternative Healing for Health and Well-being

Asem Tomba Meetei *

Before healing

My approach to the understanding of Faith Healing Practices for health and well-being is basically based on 'Emic' and 'Etic' from anthropological point of views. An 'Emic' perspective comes from the subject under study or the 'insider' point of views whereas an 'Etic' approach is researcher oriented say for example an ethnographer point of views.

The Great miracles of healing started during Jesus' 3 1/2 years ministry on earth. Historical accounts are based on facts and these facts are the backbone of history of mankind. The definition of 'health' came into force on 7 April, 1948 and according to its definition 'Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". Beyond these 'health triangle', many research studies have shown that this definition need a're-defining' conceptual framework.

The word 'health is derived from the old English word 'hoelth', which meant a state of being sound, and was generally used to infer a soundness of the body. Hippocrates was credited with the pioneering the move away from divine notions of health, and using observation as a basis for acquiring health knowledge and the focus on environmental sanitation, personal hygiene and, in particular, balanced diets – "let food be thy medicine; and let thy medicine be food". He theorized that what we currently regard as 'health' might be defined as the extent of a delicate balance of four fluids: blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. Ill health, he believed, resulted from an imbalance of these fluids.

Nevertheless, a divine view of health still persists to our generation. Many anthropological studies have shown the etiology of diseases and illness as the cause-effect relationship and explained with empirical evident that the cause of illness are due to natural, supernatural, naturalistic and personalistic, immediate and ultimate, internalizing and externalizing (Baer,2003; Foster, 1976; Murdock, 1980). Therefore, the concept of 'health' is very broad and has different meanings to different people.

Thus, Health Belief Systems influence perspectives on the meaning of health and well-being of an individual. In fact, they are an essentially function of age, culture, and personal responsibility; strongly influence subjective experience of health and ill-health. Spiritual health and well-being is also considered as one of the four dimensions of health by the researchers. This spiritual health and well-being has a lot of implications for conflict zone like Manipur. The suffering and ailments from many diseases and evil spirits are real.

Paralysed man healed

The fact is that we all know the manifestation of evil spirit such as the possession of local deities namely 'Heloi Oknaba', which can be translated as 'Fairy Encounter' in our Manipuri Meetei society. For such a sickness we never visit a modern biomedical doctor and the doctor cannot do anything in this affair. In order to exorcise such deity from the possessed person we usually take the help of local Maiba/Maibi or Pastors. The Maiba/Maibi usually appeases the deity by ritual offerings yet the deity is exorcised by the Pastors through prayer and command in Jesus' name.

In these two different types of exorcism, the former is more of propitiation of the particular deity and perform ritual offerings according to the wishes of the deity however in case of the second type of exorcism the deity is cast out through prayer in Jesus' name. The deity not only oppressed the person but also causes the family to spend money on items the deity wishes to eat or smell.

However, there are no such health care expenditures on items but simply a prayer of faith and command in Jesus' name to exorcise the deity. Research has shown that mental illness has become order of the day due to daily violence and conflicts in Manipur. Moreover, Manipur is also well-known for its notorious accounts of HIV/AIDS and IDUs due to its proximity to the Golden Triangle. What are our present youths' health and well-being in our Manipuri Society? Our respected mothers association namely 'Meirapaibi'(women torch bearer), Youth Clubs and other civil societies have also been working hard for the cause of our youth and Manipuri society to save our destiny.

The Churches in Manipur are also one of them to shape and save the future of Manipur and our society. From time to time, the churches organize 'Peace and Healing Festivals' for the health and well-being of different sections of the society. In doing so, sometimes, Christianity and its works are mistaken by the mass. Since 1998 till now there has been empirical evident of faith healing in Manipuri society through prayer of faith in Jesus' name.

Many were healed from chronic diseases, blind was opened, lame was healed and walked, deaf and dumb were healed and many such faith healing festivals were live telecast by ISTV. Research has shown that all the believers accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior not because of worldly opportunities but for spiritual well-being. The Churches in Manipur play a vital role in shaping the future hope of our youth. They are taught not to indulge in drugs and violence, which are essential for a healthy and peaceful society.

Doctor Checking the medical Report

However, do Christians in India in general and particularly in Manipur, especially Meetei Christians have the freedom to practices their faith and place of worship? The immediate answer is Big Big No. There would have been a different history if Meetei accepted Christianity in Manipur instead of Hinduism. Hinduism main principles are based on Casteism, in which 'pollution' and 'purity' notion has divided 'high' and 'low' in our society.

This had also led exactly the main cause of the torn relationship between the valley and hill community. There has also been a misconception among Meetei community regarding the Naga-Kuki violent conflict. The misconception is that why they are fighting each other though they are Christians.

Research studies have shown that 95% of Nagas and 98% of Kukis are Christians in Manipur respectively (Tohring, 2010). In this connection, Longchar writes: "The Council of Baptist Churches in North-East India (CBCNEI) played a very significant role in bringing normalcy during this time of crisis" as cited in 'Violence and Identity in North-East India: Naga-Kuki Conflict" (Tohring, 2010).

Thus, Churches in Manipur irrespective of their denominations have vital roles be it health care services, peace process negotiation, drug addiction or faith healing for health and well-being of different sections of the society. Therefore, the Churches in Manipur should be cooperated by other communities be it in their place of worship or their rendering services for the welfare of mankind for all.

From humanistic point of view attacking on their live and security and place of worship do not represent a good example of a civilized and rational being in our 21st century globalizing world. Christianity is a relationship and not a religion. An individual has a personal relationship with God and also relationship with his/her social groups forming social capital in our society for good health, spiritual health and social well-being.