Psychology, Culture, and Religion Unit, and Religions, Medicines, and Healing Unit

The Mainstreaming and Marginalization of Healing Modalities: Appropriation and Cultural Violence in the Realm of Healing 

Healing modalities that are embedded in indigenous religious traditions, and that have historically been designated as "primitive" or otherwise inferior, have been repackaged for mainstream consumption when their efficacy (and profitability) is clear. Practices like using hallucinogens or THC are now accepted as effective tools in physical and/or psychological healing. But they are generally only seen as legitimate if they are produced by pharmaceutical companies and their use is "supervised by a physician" or a regulatory body. The communities who have known about and used these practices, often for religious purposes, not only get no profit, they move further into the underclass because their practices are "illegal." At the same time, the use of these practices in medical contexts has brought important relief and healing. We welcome proposals that address the issues and conflicts surrounding secularizing and mainstreaming culturally-embedded and religious healing practices.