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On the specificity of healing functions: A study of diagnosis in three faith healing institutions in Feira (Bahia, Brazil)

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  • Ngokwey, Ndolamb

Abstract

This essay examines three popular ethnomedical institutions in Brazil: faith healers, Protestant evangelicals, and the practitioners of one of the Japanese new religions. In particular, I compare the relative degrees of diagnostic specificity in their practices. Medical anthropologists have neglected the analysis of this aspect of practice, although I show in the present paper its utility for comparative work. Also, I show that diagnostic specificity is congruent with an ontological view of illness and an active role for the healer, while lack of diagnostic specificity is congruent with a very general form of therapy, such as is found in the Seicho-no-Ie religion. Traditional rezadores, in contrast, use a high degree of diagnostic specificity.

Suggested Citation

  • Ngokwey, Ndolamb, 1989. "On the specificity of healing functions: A study of diagnosis in three faith healing institutions in Feira (Bahia, Brazil)," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 515-526, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:29:y:1989:i:4:p:515-526
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