An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

Respondent: I argue with my doctors a lotInterviewer: Let‘s take it away from you! Do you think that if the doctor is giving someonemedicine to take they should take it?Respondent: I can‘t tell anyone what to take and what not to take. It depends on what theybelieve. If I say don‘t take something and you don‘t believe what good will that do? I canttell anyone--- not even my son, being my own child—When he was young I could decideand I could pray because he could not make a choice but once he can make a choiceeverybody has the right to make a choice, it is their right. No one has the right to choosefor another person, so even if I say don‘t take it and you are doubting it is not going to doany good because your mind is somewhere else, so it is faith. I believe that God can healme and that is why I am healed.The question did not include faith although it was the intention of the researcher toascertain the respondent‟s view on faith and suffering. The respondent made it quite clearthat it was up to the individual whether they had faith in the medicine/treatment offered bytheir doctor will relieve their suffering As a spiritual healer she had no authority over theindividual. She illustrated this further by using he role as a parent in making decision forchildren under a certain age but when the child reach a certain age the parent has no furtherauthority over what the child does especially in relation to taking medicines. She alsoexplained her own faith in the doctors and the role that prayer plays in her healing. Shealso states clearly that faith and belief are superimposed on each other.‘So it is faith. I believe that God can heal me and that is why I am healed.‘199