Main description:

In contemporary manifestations of public health rituals and events, people are being increasingly united around what they hold in common-their material being and humanity. As a cult of humanity, public health provides a moral force in society that replaces 'traditional' religions in times of great diversity or heterogeneity of peoples, activities and desires. This is in contrast to public health's foundation in science, particularly the science of epidemiology. The rigid rules of 'scientific evidence' used to determine the cause of illness and disease can work against the most vulnerable in society by putting sectors of the population, such as underrepresented workers, at a disadvantage. This study focuses on this tension between traditional science and the changing vision articulated within public health (and across many disciplines) that calls for a collective response to uncontrolled capitalism and unremitting globalization, and to the way in which health inequalities and their association with social inequalities provides a political rhetoric that calls for a new redistributive social programme. Drawing on decades of research, the author argues that public health is both a cult and a science of contemporary society.

Contents:

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1. Introduction: Public health theories and theorising public health

Chapter 2. Myths, morality and modern public health

Chapter 3. The politics of public health

Chapter 4. Health promotion settings and health hostile environments

Chapter 5. Public health and health professionals

Chapter 6. The political use of public health

Chapter 7. Public health campaigns

Chapter 8. The cult of health and its rituals

References