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

When we look at the effect of culture on health behaviour, then, we are not looking at theeffect of a constant force, but of something which is always developing through multiplechallenges. This is illustrated in the continuous movement and development of the BlackPentecostal churches. There is a continuous process of cultural shift in all levels of societyin Erez and Gati‟s (2004) model, which can be applied to the culture of Christian churchesas well as of ethnic groups and their collective health behaviour. Walsh (2001) suggeststhis web of cultural structures as constituting a densely layered cultural script which iswrapped in the concept of pain and suffering. Warrington (2008) also outlines aPentecostal response to suffering as a cultural concept.Culture in the context of this research relates not just to Black or English culture, but to theChristian tradition as a culture, the culture that exists in the two churches, the sub-cultureof the Black minority in COGIC where the Black people are the ethnic majority, Whitepeople the ethnic minority. In the URC “White British” are the ethnic majority and theB.M.E. people are the ethnic minority. In the URC church in Africa and the West Indiesthe reverse is true where Black people are also the ethnic majority.The concept of culture as it relates to people's beliefs in health and illness is complex, anddebate about the relation between health, health seeking behaviour and culture is not onlylongstanding but also contentious. Vaskilampi and Hanninen (1982) cautioned against anoveremphasis on the cultural approach to health and illness. Other researchers tookcautious approaches and discussed the dangers of overstressing culture regarding health.Yet, Leininger and McFarland (2002) and Helman (2002) both argue that culturalbackground has an important influence on many aspects of our lives. These aspects includebeliefs, behaviours and attitudes to illness and other misfortunes, and at the same time they42