Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bodies in Skin: A philosophical and Theological Approach to Genetic Skin Diseases

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This contribution evolved from my work in a European network and is dedicated to the rare genetic skin diseases. To gain a deeper knowledge about the question, what it means to suffer from a genetic skin disease, I have discussed the concepts of skin in philosophical and theological anthropology. Presuming that ancient interpretations of skin diseases (moral and cultical impurity) are still relevant today, feminist Christian theology shows the ways of deconstructing stigmatizing paradigma by using the body as a hermeneutic category. Skin becomes the “open borderline” of the human being, pointing out both the social vulnerability and the transcendent capacity of the human person.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Condrau, G., & Schipperges, H. (1993). Unsere Haut. Spiegel der Seele, Verbindung zur Welt. Zürich: Kreuz Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroer, S., & Staubli, T. (1998). Die Körpersymbolik der Bibel. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kornfeld, W. (1983). Levitikus (p. 50). Würzburg: Echter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haag, H. (1968). Bibel-Lexikon (p. 987f). Zürich, Köln, Benziger: Einsiedeln.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesse, F. (1978). Hiob (p. 40). Zürich: Theologischer Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwienhorst-Schönberger, L. (2007). Ein Weg durch das Leid. Das Buch Ijob. Herder: Freiburg i.Br.

    Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, M. (1985). Reinheit und Gefährdung. Eine Studie zu Vorstellungen von Verunreinigung und Tabu. Berlin: Reimer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cahill, L., & Farley, M. (1995). Embodiment, Morality and Medicine. Dordrecht, Boston, London: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

I thank Roberto Dell’Oro from Marymount University (Los Angeles) and Sigrid Müller from Vienna University for their helpful comments on this essay.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Moraltheologie der Universität Wien, Schenkenstr. 8-10, 1010, Wien, Austria

    Angelika Walser

Authors
  1. Angelika Walser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angelika Walser.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Walser, A. Bodies in Skin: A philosophical and Theological Approach to Genetic Skin Diseases. J Relig Health 49, 96–104 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9233-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9233-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation