What does it mean to obey God regarding health? Is an ethic for living a balanced life detailed in the holy book of each religious tradition? Or does following “God’s law” require a reinterpretation to guide modern-day adherents to be faithful servants of soil and spirit to empower human health?
Although the answers to these questions apply equally to those following or rejecting a faith tradition—simply because natural law affects all life—I will focus on those of a Western religious background, where I see the greatest disconnect in clinical practice.
Creation, by God’s design, implies a natural law of rhythms and observances. Just as the sun sets and the moon rises, the wise wind down and prepare for a long night of rest and recovery. Subsisting on a few hours of sleep breaks natural law. You can’t burn the candle at both ends night after night without expecting something to go awry in human physiology.
…