Book Talk on Global Health, Human Rights, and Religion

The Incubator partnered with the François-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center at Harvard University to co-host a roundtable book discussion on Beholden: Religion, Global Health, and Human Rights, a new book by Incubator Senior Writer Dr. Susan Holman, published by Oxford University Press in 2015. The book explores the contrasts between healthcare efforts based in public health—which commonly focus on justice and human rights—and faith-based health initiatives that are more often shaped by ideologies of gift and philanthropic aid.

In Beholden, Holman—who holds dual degrees in nutrition science and religion—highlights how a combined approach, one that engages religious views and traditions with dialogue about economic and social rights, can be useful in combating global health problems. The book draws on a variety of true stories from across history, such as the role of water in religious pilgrimage, food aid during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, religion-health assets models in southern Africa, and ethical challenges related to concepts of civic duty in 19th century American health care and political diplomacy. “By the final chapter,” said award director Dr. Shannon Craigo-Snell, the book “evokes an image of global humanity in which we all recognize that we are beholden to one another—both givers and receivers in inescapable interconnection.”

The book discussion, held on April 3, 2015, featured remarks by the author as well as a facilitated discussion among the 40 participants, which included members of the faculty, staff and student body from both sides of the Charles River. Read more.