Mind, body and 'I'

Abstract

How compartmentalised are mind and body in personal and clinical experience? This question can be illustrated by an ancient story. The Old Testament tells of the prophet Nehemiah who is leading the Israelites in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. There is intense opposition from local non-Israelites who try several ways of stopping the work. In the end they resort to spreading a false report that the Jews are plotting a revolt and setting up a new kingdom, intending by this to activate surrounding forces against the Jews. Nehemiah's reported response is:

"They were trying to frighten us, thinking, 'Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed'.  But I prayed, 'Now strengthen my hands'."

it is very unlikely that a modern educated westerner would express him/herself in this manner. The language shows that, for Nehemiah, being frightened and physically weak are two faces of the same thing. This is emphasised when he prays for his hands to be strengthened.  A modern Western religious would almost certainly go the psychological route and pray that his fear be reduced, or his courage be increased. Nehemiah somatises the issue (whilst clearly acknowledging the fear) but our modern Westerner would psychologise it (very often to such an extent that any real awareness of the relationship of the fear to the physical concomitant is lost).