The Lord for the body : religion, medicine and Protestant faith healing in Canada, 1880-1930 / James Opp.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Opp, James William.

Series:

McGill-Queen's studies in the history of religion ; 36.

McGill-Queen's studies in the history of religion ; 36

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Spiritual healing--Canada--History.

Spiritual healing.

Protestantism--Canada--19th century.

Protestantism.

Protestantism--Canada--20th century.

History.

Canada.

Physical Description:

x, 274 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Montreal : McGill-Queen's University Press, [2005]

Summary:

In the early 1920s, English-Canadians were captivated by the urban campaigns of faith healing evangelists. Crowds squeezed into local arenas to witness the afflicted, "slain in the spirit," casting away braces and crutches. Professional faith healers, although denounced by critics as promoting mass hypnotism, gained notoriety and followers in their call for people to choose "the Lord for the Body." In his innovative work, James Opp explores the cultural practice of Protestant faith healing in Canada from its Victorian roots as an informal network of women sharing testimonies to its culmination in the organized professional campaigns of the twentieth century. Framing the phenomenon of divine healing as a history of the body, Opp provides a unique window onto the intersection of religion and medicine. From newspaper accounts to criminal proceedings,

Contents:

1 Bodily Knowledge 14

2 The Prayer of Faith 35

3 A Respectable Movement 64

4 Marching to Zion 91

5 Pentecostal Power 121

6 Revivals and Reactions 146

7 Exposing the Body 176.

Notes:

Limited edition of 350 copies.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0773529055

OCLC:

60739631