Programs & Research

Research on Healers and Healing

A key component of the intellectual work of the Baylor ISR Program for Religion and Population Health (PRPH) is the qualitative exploration of themes related to healers and healing. This includes a diverse program of research and writing on a variety of topics.

Current subjects of interest include:

  • religious and spiritual determinants of health and healing
  • beliefs and practices of energy healers
  • conceptual and theoretical models of salutogenesis/healing and human flourishing
  • theological and bioethical issues at the interface of theology and medicine
  • the history of esoteric healing traditions
  • theoretical and methodological issues in integrative medicine, energy healing, and consciousness research
  • the role of divine love in fostering health and healing

Peer Reviewed Publications

  • Levin, Jeff. (2018). The Discourse on Faith and Medicine: A Tale of Two Literatures. Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 39:265-282.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff. (2017). What is “Healing”? Reflections on Diagnostic Criteria, Nosology, and Etiology. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing 13:244-256.icon_pdf
  •  Levin, Jeff. (2017). A Response. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing 13:271-273.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff. (2017). New-Paradigm Research in Medicine:  An Agenda.  Journal of Scientific Exploration 31:49-70.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff. (2016). ‘‘For They Knew Not What It Was’’: Rethinking the Tacit Narrative History of Religion and Health Research.  Journal of Religion and Health (online prepublication).icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff. (2016). Prevalence and Religious Predictors of Healing Prayer Use in the USA: Findings from the Baylor Religion Survey. Journal of Religion and Health 55:1136-1158.icon_pdf
  • Salazar, Cindy Lynn, and Jeff Levin.  (2013).  Religious Features of Curanderismo Training and Practice.  EXPLORE:  The Journal of Science and Healing 9:150-158.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff.  (2011).  Energy Healers:  Who They Are and What They Do.  EXPLORE:  The Journal of Science and Healing 7:13-26.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff, Robert Joseph Taylor, and Linda M. Chatters.  (2011).  Prevalence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Spiritual Healer Use:  Findings from the National Survey of American Life.  Complementary Therapies in Medicine 19:63-70.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff.  (2011).  Transcendent Experience and Health:  Concepts, Cases, and Sociological Themes.  In Anthony J. Blasi (Ed.), Toward a Sociological Theory of Religion and Health (pp. 69-93).  Leiden/Boston:  Brill.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff, Linda M. Chatters, and Robert Joseph Taylor.  (2011).  Theory in Religion, Aging, and Health:  An Overview.  Journal of Religion and Health 50:389-406.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff, and Berton H. Kaplan.  (2010).  The Sorokin Multidimensional Inventory of Love Experience (SMILE):  Development, Validation, and Religious Determinants.  Review of Religious Research 51:380-401.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff.  (2010).  Religion and Mental Health:  Theory and Research.  International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies 7:102-115.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff.  (2009). Restoring the Spiritual:  Reflections on Arrogance and Myopia—Allopathic and Holistic.  Journal of Religion and Health 48:482-495.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff.  (2009).   ‘‘And Let Us Make Us a Name’’:  Reflections on the Future of the Religion and Health Field.  Journal of Religion and Health 48:125-145.icon_pdf
  • Levin, Jeff.  (2009).  How Faith Heals:  A Theoretical Model.  EXPLORE:  The Journal of Religion and Health 5:77-96.icon_pdf