Date

4-7-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Jichan Jay Kim

Keywords

attachment, Christians, divine healing, relational spirituality

Disciplines

Philosophy | Psychology

Abstract

Divine healing has been described as miraculous and supernatural, attributed to a divine entity, and other methods. Pathways have varied from fasting, praying, worshiping, the Holy Spirit, Scripture, faith, hope, trusting, surrendering, and having a relationship with God. Perceptions and understandings of God, as influenced by religious and spiritual beliefs, are referred to as relational spirituality grounded in attachment theory, which may lead to viewing God as an attachment figure, influencing perceptions of self and others. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of Christians who have experienced divine healing and the role of relational spirituality. Delimitations are adults who have experienced divine healing, with the assumption that they accurately recall and answer honestly. After Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, recruitment of 20 participants was obtained through churches and the Liberty University School of Behavioral Sciences. The study’s findings revealed three themes and six subthemes that included: (1) the meaning of divine healing: an end of struggling and healing from God; (2) the perception of experiencing divine healing: confirmation of healing and effects on relationships; and (3) relational spirituality: religion and spirituality and connections and understandings of God, self, and others. Implications stress the importance of working with Christian populations in providing resources that meet needs, including: (1) mental health therapy resources with emphasis on faith-based interventions; (2) the role of relational spirituality that includes relationships with God, self, and others; and (3) building networks of communication among organizations.

Download

Share

COinS