COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY IN SECULAR SOCIETY

I recently read a highly interesting piece about a conference at which Linda Woodhead, professor of sociology of religion at Lancaster University, made some stimulating observations about the role of complementary therapists today. In the west, in what many would argue is an increasingly secular environment, those involved in the complementary therapy professions have, she suggested, taken on the role of confessors and spiritual mentors.

The idea is based upon the lengthy consultation process involved in holistic therapies and the attention to a wide-range of details and careful listening that people ideally find. She argued that people place a lot of trust in this therapeutic relationship and that they believed they were listened to. I am not entirely sure how much I agree with this, but it is certainly an intriguing idea.

The article where I read about this later went on to look at The Rule of St Benedict from the sixth century in this context. This was written at a time of great social change and disintegration with the collapse of the Roman empire. The Rule was written primarily for monks but does contain principles that can be applied more widely, and there are chapters that deal specifically with the care of the sick and compassion towards the elderly and children. The Rule opens with the single word ‘Listen’ and then asks that the listening be “with the ear of your heart”. Now, I think that is a great piece of guidance for any acupuncturist or reputable complementary therapist.