Abstract:
This paper explores the significance of purity for
healing and health. Despite all the exploits that the world has witnessed
in the field of science and technology, sicknesses and diseases still pose
a serious threat to the existence of man on earth. Many new contagious,
incurable, terminal diseases are being discovered almost on daily basis
and the medical sciences seem not to have solution to most of these
health challenges. It has been discovered however that the choice of
personal lifestyle is crucial to health and illness. The link between
lifestyle and health is a major area of interest in public health today.
Man 's lack of clean habits has been identified as the major cause of
contagious diseases. In most cases, poor personal hygiene and public
sanitation a id the spread of infectious diseases. I n this regard, physical
and spiritual purity as basis for healing and holiness is examined
through an exegetical analysis of Mark 7 to actualize the theological
meaning of the text in today's context and, engender commitment to
personal and societal transformation. The paper adopts both the
historical critical method and historical materialist sociological
method. It is believed that the control of most of the contagious diseases
depends largely on high standard of personal and environmental
hygiene and holy living.
