Prevention Theory and Action from the Religious Perspective

Summary Based on interviews with nine individuals actively involved in religiously-affiliated service, we describe and examine their perspectives on prevention and on religion as a preventive influence. As an initial attempt to organize religion's implicit theory of prevention, the discussion is organized under three broad headings: (1) the religions world view and understanding of prevention; (2) the religious world view in practice, distinctive aspects of religion as prevention; and (3) issues of religious-human services collaboration in preventive action. Described in the context of religion as a different cultural setting, our major assertion is that prevention in religious contexts stems from a global yet differentiated promotion approach to human welfare. Given our assumption that there arc special religious influences which promote the health and well-being of individuals and communities, we challenge religion to better mobilize them, and human services to better appreciate and incorporate them.