This class uses healing traditions as the lens with which to examine culture. During the semester students will have the opportunity to meet healers from around the world. In a typical semester presenters include a Traditional Chinese Medical practitioner, an Ayurvedic physician (from India), a shaman from Peru, an exorcist, a native American Healer an allopathic physician, new age healers, a Christian Scientist and others. This course cannot be used to fulfill the requirements for the biology major. Also offered as REL 412 and GS 412.
Readings
Course Readings - Paper - Biology 412 / Global Studies 412 / Religious Studies 412
Print books on Reserve. Books may be used in the Science Library only.
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Introduction to the Scientific Method
University of Rochester Physics Department.
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Scientific Methods and Knowledge
Chapter 2 from Reproducibility and Replicability in Science. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2019 May 7. 2, Scientific Methods and Knowledge.
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Deliver Us From Evil - Excerpts
Excerpts from Basham, Don. Deliver Us From Evil. Old Tappan, New Jersey : Chosen Books, 1972. pgs. 9-55.
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American Exorcism
Mariani, Mike. "American Exorcism." Atlantic Magazine, December 2018.
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Positive therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer in a coronary care unit population
Byrd, R. "Positive therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer in a coronary care unit population". Southern Medical Journal, vol. 81, no. 7, July 1988, p. 826-829.
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Introduction from The Mindful Way Through Depression
Introduction: Tired of Feeling So Bad for So Long. From Williams, J. Mark G., et al. The Mindful Way through Depression :Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness. New York; 4: Guilford Press, 2007. pgs. 1-8.
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Chapter 1 from The Mindful Way Through Depression
Chapter 1: "Oh No, Here I Go Again" From Williams, J. Mark G., et al. The Mindful Way through Depression :Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness. New York; 4: Guilford Press, 2007. pgs. 11-30.
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Chapter 2 from The Mindful Way Through Depression
Chapter 2: The Healing Power of Awareness. From Williams, J. Mark G., et al. The Mindful Way through Depression :Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness. New York; 4: Guilford Press, 2007. pgs. 31-49.
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Introduction and Preface to The Way of the Shaman
Introduction and Preface. From Harner, Michael. The Way of the Shaman. New York : HarperOne, ©1990. pgs. xiii-xxvii.
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Chapters 1 and 3 from The Way of the Shaman
Chapters 1 and 3. From Harner, Michael. The Way of the Shaman. New York : HarperOne, ©1990. pgs. 1-24, 51-72.
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Myth of mental illness
Szasz, T. "Myth of mental illness". American psychologist, v. 15, 1960, p. 113-118.
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Does Mental Illness Exist?
Stevens, Lawrence. "Does Mental Illness Exist?" Antipsychiatry.org
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Head Case
Menand, Louis. "Head Case." New Yorker 86.2 (2010): 68-74.
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Chapter 5 from The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine
Ni, Maoshing. The Manifestation of Yin and Yang from the Macrocosm to the Microcosm. Chapter 5 from The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine :A New Translation of the Neijing Suwen with Commentary. Boston: Shambhala, 1995, pgs. 17-26.
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Chapter 1 of The Web that has No Weaver
Kaptchuk, Ted J. Medicine East and West: Two Ways of Seeing, Two Ways of Thinking. Chapter 1 of The Web that has no Weaver :Understanding Chinese Medicine. Rev , newly expand and updat ed. Chicago, Ill: Contemporary Books, 2000, pgs. 1-15 .
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Chapters 2 and 3 from Taijiquan: Through the Western Gate
Chapters 2 and 3 from Barrett, Rick. Taijiquan: Through the Western Gate. Berkeley, CA : Blue Snake Books / Frog, Ltd., ©2006. pgs. 25-44.
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A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch - Rosa
Rosa L, Rosa E, Sarner L, Barrett S. A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch. JAMA. 1998;279(13):1005–1010.
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Regulating Fringe Practitioners
Novella, Steven. Regulating Fringe Practitioners. Science-Base Medicine, Jan. 2019
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The Ethics of Cosmetic Enhancement
Raphael, Anna. "The Ethics of Cosmetic Enhancement." The Pharos Of Alpha Omega Alpha-Honor Medical Society. Alpha Omega Alpha 73.1 (2010): 18-23.
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What if the Placebo Effect Isn’t a Trick?
Greenberg, Gary. What if the Placebo Effect Isn’t a Trick? New York Times, Nov. 7, 2018.
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Does Taking Time For Compassion Make Doctors Better At Their Jobs?
Ritchie, L. Carol. Does Taking Time For Compassion Make Doctors Better At Their Jobs? NPR, April 26, 2019.
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The Egg and the Sperm: How Science Has Constructed A Romance Based on Stereotypical Male-Female Roles
Martin, E. "The Egg and the Sperm: How Science Has Constructed A Romance Based on Stereotypical Male-Female Roles". Feminism and science. New York : Oxford University Press, 1996. 103-117
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Borderline cases : How medical practice reflects national culture
Payer, L. "Borderline cases : How medical practice reflects national culture". The Sciences, July/August 1990, p. 38-42.
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Fertilization Discovery Reveals New Role for the Egg
Barney, Josh. Fertilization Discovery Reveals New Role for the Egg. Phys.org, November 14, 2019.
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Christian Science Healing Methods Explained
Harris, Virginia S. Christian Science Healing Methods Explained. Christian Science Journal, March 1999.
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What is Christian Science?
Scroll down to several links that explore different topics. On the “Beliefs and teachings” page there is a downloadable brochure that gives a good introduction. Eddy, Mary Baker. What is Christian Science? Christianscience.com.
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The Way of the Shaman
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The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
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