Spirituality/Medicine Interface Project
Helping as Healing Among Recovering Alcoholics
Abstract
The importance of helping others is recognized in most major religions. A famous example in Christianity is the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12), Jesus’ dictum that “Therefore all that you wish men to do unto you, even so you do also to them.” Judaic scriptures maintain that Jewish people have an obligation of tzedakah (both “charity” and “righteousness”) that supersedes any other positive precept,1 and the third of the Five Pillars of Islam is zakat (“almsgiving”).2 Buddhists value right action, loving-kindness (wishing for the happiness of all), compassion (wishing others freedom from suffering), and equanimity (valuing all beings equally).3,4 Consistent with this emphasis, studies conducted in America have found that greater helping is related to higher self-reported spirituality5 and affiliation with a church group or church attendance.6,7 Hence, helping others could be understood as the behavioral expression of a spiritual orientation.This content is limited to qualifying members.
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