The laying on of hands
NPR Morning Edition recently had a story on the benefits of human touch. Not that there was any news in it, but it summarizes some of the science:
Social scientists have shown in many studies over the years that supportive touch can have good outcomes in a number of different realms. Consider the following examples: If a teacher touches a student on the back or arm, that student is more likely to participate in class. The more athletes high-five or hug their teammates, the better their game. A touch can make patients like their doctors more....Some questions:If somebody touches you, there's pressure pushing on your skin at the point of contact. And just under the skin are pressure receptors called "Pacinian corpuscles," .... The Pacinian corpuscles' signals go directly to an important nerve bundle deep in the brain called the vagus nerve. The vagus sometimes is called "the wanderer" because it has branches that wander throughout the body to several internal organs, including the heart. And it's the vagus nerve that then slows the heart down and decreases blood pressure.
...
Hand-holding or hugging also results in a decrease of the stress hormone cortisol, says Matt Hertenstein, an experimental psychologist at DePauw University in Indiana. "Having this friendly touch, just somebody simply touching our arm and holding it, buffers the physiological consequences of this stressful response," Hertenstein says. In addition to calming us down and reducing our stress response, a friendly touch also increases release of the oxytocin — also called the "cuddle hormone" — which affects trust behaviors. "Oxytocin is a neuropeptide, which basically promotes feelings of devotion, trust and bonding," Hertenstein says.
Does your church celebrate the laying on of hands? How, and what is the response?
Is a friendly touch in Sunday school and counseling reconcilable with safeguards to protect children and reduce sexual misconduct?
To answer the question you on which the article ends, I think the two can be reconciled. I'm a teacher, and although I sometimes give pats on the back or a hand on a shoulder, I would never do it in a private setting. Indeed, I try not to be completely in private with a student at all, for my own protection. If a student and I are meeting one-one-one, I make sure that the door to the room we're in is wide open.
Bill Dilworth
Posted by billydinpvd![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
|
September 23, 2010 8:18 AM
However it raises stress in those who find unwanted touching invasive. I do no like forced hand holding - ala when saying the Lord's Prayer in church - there is pressure for all to hold hands. Arggh!
Posted by Ann Fontaine![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
|
September 23, 2010 11:46 AM
Some questions:
Does your church celebrate the laying on of hands? How, and what is the response?
Yes we do!!! The response is very positive. We have a healing prayer ministry at our church. In the last three years it has expanded from three people to 10.
Our rector does the healing prayer service on Wednesday morning which I always attend.
On the 1st and 3rd Sunday members of the healing prayer team offer healing prayer and annointing in the chapel during communion. Sometimes we are still praying for people through the recessional and I think most of us embrace people and/or hold their hand. It is a two person team concept but if there is a long line we split up.
Prayer of course transforms us. Sigh, there have been times when I have regretted giving up so much of my own "junk" to do this. Was it Erasmus who said the problem with sin, is that we like our sins.?
As to this second question: I don't know.
Is a friendly touch in Sunday school and counseling reconcilable with safeguards to protect children and reduce sexual misconduct?
Posted by Bonnie Spivey![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
|
September 23, 2010 11:58 AM
Thank you, Ann. Being expected to hold hands when praying raises my cortisol instead of lowering it. When I ask someone if I might pray for them, I also ask if they want me to hold their hand or put a hand on their arm.
We do, however, celebrate the laying on of hands and I do that, as well as a lay person, during the distribution of the bread and wine.
As to question 2, I'm with reply #1 above.
Posted by Lois Keen![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
|
September 23, 2010 12:40 PM