It is inspiring to see a physician who is unafraid to stand up for his religious beliefs and who understands how those beliefs can resonate with good science.”—Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Reinventing Medicine and Healing Words

The name Harold G. Koenig is well known in the fast-growing field of spirituality and health. Founder and director of the widely respected Duke University Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health, Dr. Koenig is recognized worldwide for his groundbreaking work in medical science and religious faith. In this book—now available in paperback—he shares his remarkable personal story and shows how personal trials became the catalyst for his pioneering research.

In Part One he describes his turbulent youth: growing up on a California vineyard, college days of experimentation during the 1970s, adventures as a student researcher in Africa with Jane Goodall, an emotional breakdown, expulsion from medical school for disruptive behavior, battling mental illness as a street person in San Francisco. He refers to his ongoing battle with a chronic and debilitating physical disease in terms of the insights it gives him for his work, and he recounts the striking realization of God’s call, the people and events that helped him refine a vision into a mission, and the subsequent professional opposition that resided alongside his success.

Part Two draws on the real-life examples of former patients and summarizes Koenig’s most important findings concerning the impact of Christian faith on mental and physical health, encapsulated by the statement: Religious faith and practice are connected to mental and physical health.

In Part Three he challenges individuals and the American church to consider the implications of the research and to develop constructive ways of implementing the healing connection that can be found in faith.

Highlights

Presents the autobiography of the internationally recognized leader in spirituality and healing

Traces the origin of the vision of faith-based healthcare programs

Inspires individuals about the healing power of the faith

National advertising:

JAMA
Journal of Pastoral Care
Leadership
Christian Century
Modern Healthcare
Ministries Today

National publicity:

Feature article sent to 10,000 daily and weekly newspapers;

National television campaign pickup guaranteed in at least 200 local papers

Radio tour to 20+ U.S. markets

Review copy mailing to 200 health and religion editors

National Speaking tour

National mailing to 8,800 religious book and gift stores

About the Author:
Harold G. Koenig, M.D., completed his undergraduate education at Stanford University, his medical school training at the University of California at San Francisco, and his geriatric medicine, psychiatry, and biostatistics training at Duke University Medical Center. He is the author of more than a dozen books and over 150 professional journal articles detailing the results of his research on the connections between religious faith and mental and physical health. He is the editor of the International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine and Research News & Opportunities in Science and Theology.