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

argued that the concept of culture is often misunderstood or even misused by those whohave used it. Cultures cannot be regarded as uniform, even within a specific cultural groupas variances exist, based on the degree of integration of different sub-cultures within themainstream culture. Clinical judgment and epidemiological research are affected bycultural knowledge and the cognitive and social influences of conditions such as mentaland psychological disorders are key factors in these judgments. The conflicting views onthe differences on the cultural and social aspects of health and illness amongst researchersof health and illness are not always transparent. Clinicians and theologians may borroweach others‟ arguments. Warrington (2008), writing about Pentecostal theology,nonetheless suggests culture is among the main forces shaping and framing the perceptionand expression of symptoms and complaints regarding ill health and the concept ofsuffering.2.3.3 The Historical Roots of Holistic Folk MedicineAll cultures include cultural health and illness behaviour. Even before individuals in eachcongregation were socialised into religious practices, they will have been also socialisedinto hygienic and health practices, having had their infant pains soothed by their mother‟stouch and song and their grandmother‟s remedies, and been ta en to the doctor, the healthvisitor or village doctor. Each person would have been exposed to some aspect of folkmedicine or the medicine of their ancestors or neighbours. When they become members ofa church the medicine of the ancestors continues in some form and becomes a part of thehealing practices, although this may be in addition to the teachings of the Bible. AlthoughVaskilampi and Hanninen (1982) insisted that cultural theory is too general and too limited43