The Meaning of Illness, Healing, and Wholeness

Kay Toombs is associate professor emerita of philosophy at Baylor University in Texas. In her work she explores the ways in which contemporary values and the context in which we live our lives impact our efforts to develop a sustainable culture and to form caring communities. In her work related to illness, disability and healthcare, she combines her training in philosophy with her experience of living with neurological disease to reflect on the experience of illness and disability, the care of the chronically and terminally ill, the relationship between health care professionals and patients, and the meaning of suffering and healing, both in the context of Western culture and within the context of intentional Christian community.

Living with multiple sclerosis since 1973, Kay has expressed how her life experience with disability and illness has driven her work. In an interview for the Baylor Arts & Sciences publication “Collegium,” she said:

“The whole focus of my work has been to show the difference between the patient’s experience and the physician’s perspective. I began this work when I spoke as a patient to physicians and was puzzled at their responses. We seemed, even though talking about the same thing, in effect to be talking about two different things.”

 

Explore Books by Kay Toombs:

www.homesteadheritage.com/books; www.amazon.com/books

The Meaning of Illness: A Phenomenological Account of the Different Perspectives of Physician and PatientHow Then Should We Die: Two Opposing Responses to the Challenges of Suffering and DeathLiving at the Boundary, Healing and Incurable IllnessThe Human Dimension of Sustainable Culture

 

Write to Kay Toombs

 

KEY QUESTIONS:

What is the difference between healing and curing?What is wholeness?What meaning can be found in illness and disability?

 

KEY SCRIPTURES:

Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”1 Corinthians 6:19–20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”Psalm 61:1–2: “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you; I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

 

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Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways, and offer disability ministry training.