Beyond Reductionism or Wishful Thinking
This paper critically examines the integration of spiritual and theological frameworks into contemporary healthcare, especially in tension with evidence-based medicine (EBM). Drawing on hermeneutics, phenomenology, and theology, Ungar-Sargon proposes a model of healing centered on the sacred-profane dialectic and covenantal care. The paper evaluates this model against EBM’s methodological standards, highlighting the epistemological divide between spiritual interpretive frameworks and empirical clinical science. The analysis explores risks such as methodological confusion, cultural exclusivity, and the potential reintroduction of pre-scientific thinking into clinical contexts. While affirming the value of spiritual perspectives in addressing the limitations of reductionist biomedicine, the paper argues for clearer distinctions between ontological and epistemological claims and calls for pluralism, methodological rigor, and conceptual clarity in integrating spirituality into healthcare practice.