A Special Section of a future issue of the Journal of Religion and Health will be devoted to religion and health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present time is like no other in most of our lifetimes. We are all facing an uncertain future, with little control over what happens next. The only certainty for many now is their religious faith, which is a rock that they are now needing to hold onto. Indeed, religious faith will likely make an important difference in how many make it through this challenging time in our nation's and world's history. This topic-how religion can make a difference, what religious people and communities are doing in response, and how religious people can stay healthy-is the focus of the Special Section. The authors include a wide range of experts in religion-health research, opinion leaders in this field, and those on the front lines-clergy and health professionals-grappling with the care of patients in our hospitals and clinics, including COVID-19 patients. Here is a brief overview of a sample of articles that will be appearing in this Special Section:
Helen Flanders Dunbar was a psychiatrist, an early leader in the field of psychosomatic medicine, and a prophetic proponent of supervised clinical training for clergy. She was a prolific writer educated in theology and medieval studies as well as medicine. Yet she remains largely an enigma despite her achievements. This article explores Dunbar's life and attempts an explanation of why her person and ideas are not widely recognized today.
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