Wholistic or Holistic? Does It Matter?

Rei Towet Kesis

ABSTRACT – How innocent are these words wholistic and holistic?

Could they be having any implication on the theology of the Seventh-
day Adventist church? It is true that words can have more than one
meaning, but what happens if the word originates from a philosophy
that is theologically unacceptable, should it be ignored? Writing from
a Christian Seventh-day Adventist perspective this paper seeks to find
out the reason why Wholism would be preferable to holism among
Adventists. The first question to be answered would be whether the
word wholistic exists at all. The origin of holism will be presented and
then an analysis of whether the two words are similar will be done.
After showing the possible differences of the words, the last and most
important question would be whether use of either matters to a
Seventh-day Adventist.
Keywords: Wholism, holism, wholisitic and holistic

I. Introduction

The word holistic seems to be quickly replacing the word

wholistic, both in dictionaries and usage. In fact it becomes necessary
to inquire if the word wholistic exists? If it does, where did the word
holistic come from? Do these words, holistic and wholistic mean the
same thing? If they mean the same thing, does it matter which one is
used? Are the Seventh-day Adventist education and health care
systems wholistic or holistic? To what extent can the dictionaries be

Manuscript received Nov. 14, 2011; revised Jan. 16, 2012; accepted Feb. 20,
2012.
Rei Towet Kesis([email protected]) is the University Chaplain of the
University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, Kenya.

AAMM, Vol. 5, 63
trusted to arbitrate this matter? This paper seeks to answer these
questions and others.

II. Does the Word Wholistic Exist?

The word wholistic exists in some dictionaries, but many modern

dictionaries, like the Oxford Advanced Learners, do not have it. The
word wholistic seems to be in limited use compared to holistic.
Chepkwony (2011, p. 45) uses “the term ‘wholistic’ to describe the
way Africans perceive and deal with reality as a whole functioning
system.”
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary has the word
wholistic and presents it as a word influenced by the word whole and
links it to holism and holistic (Gove, 1961, p. 2612). The Seventh-day
Adventist Handbook of Theology uses the word wholistic and
wholism several times (Dederen, pp. 317, 341). George Knight (1995,
pp. 17-30) uses the word wholistic to show that it is the Adventist
approach to world mission. Therefore it is right to conclude that the
word wholistic exists and is in use.

III. Where Did the Word Holistic Come From?

The word holistic comes from holism. The term holism was
coined in 1926 by Jan Christiaan Smuts (24 May 1870-11 September
1950) a prominent South African and British Commonwealth
statesman, military leader and philosopher (Gove, 1961, p. 1080;
Wikipedia, Holistic approach; Wikipedia, Holism and related
academic work). Smuts wrote a book entitled Holism and Evolution:
the Original Source of the Holistic Approach to Life. Smuts’
philosophy of life is developed and embodied in the two theories of
Holism and Evolution.

Small units must develop into bigger wholes, and they in

their turn again must grow into larger and ever-larger
structures without cessation. Advancement lay along that
path. Thus the unification of the four provinces in the Union
of South Africa, the idea of the British Commonwealth of
Nations, and, finally, the great whole resulting from the

64 Rei Towet Kesis

 combination of the peoples of the earth in a great league of
nations (Wikipedia, Holism and related academic work).

Holist has also been associated with holism. A holist is “an

advocate of holism or holistic principles” (Gove, 1961, p. 1080).
Holism (from ὂλος holos, a Greek word meaning all, whole, entire,
total) has developed into the idea that all the properties of a given
system (physical, biological, chemical, social, economic, mental,
linguistic, etc.) cannot be determined or explained by its component
parts alone. Instead, the system as a whole determines in an important
way how the parts behave (Wikipedia, Holistic approach).
It is important to observe that holism just like evolution, is more of
a “religious” belief than a scientific concept. Holism has been
associated with Logos, Panentheism and Pantheism. A holistic
perspective is found in diverse intellectual, cultural traditions and
disciplines throughout history, including Gestalt psychology, Chinese
medicine, Buddhism, Daoism and other religious traditions. Holism is
also associated with ancient Greek thinking that has influenced the
world. Plato and Aristotle viewed the world and each being in the
world as mutually interrelated and part of a teleologically organized
whole. Aristotle stated it as, “the whole is more than the sum of its
parts.” (Geisler, 1987, p. 79; New World Encyclopedia, Holism).
Scientists initially resisted the holism philosophy because of it
being more “religious” than scientific. However the passage of time
seems to have worked in favour of the philosophy.

Further resistance to holism has come from the long

association of the concept with quackery and quantum
mysticism. Scientists, who are not immune to peer pressure,
were as a rule discouraged from doing any work which may
perpetuate such deception. Recently, however, public
understanding has grown over the realities of such concepts,
and more scientists are beginning to accept serious research
into the concept (New World Encyclopedia, Holism).

Albert Einstein may have been right when he predicted that “two
mental constructs will direct human thinking in the next millennium,
his own mental construct of relativity and Smuts' of holism”
(Wikipedia, Holism and related academic work). The fulfillment of
this prediction could be the reason why education and health products
easily sell when they are presented as holistic. This also could be the

AAMM, Vol. 5, 65
reason why dictionaries are quietly dropping the word wholism and
replacing it with holism.

IV. Do the Words Wholistic and Holistic Mean the Same Thing?

Meaning is derived from usage. Holism as initiated by Smuts was

presented as an approach to human life (Wikipedia, Holism and
related academic work). We shall analyse the usage of both holistic
and wholistic in reference to human life. We shall then draw an
appropriate conclusion on whether they mean the same thing or not.
Holism is presented as the “belief that the nature of humans
consists of an ultimately divisible union of components such as body,
soul and spirit” (emphasis is mine, Wikipedia, Holistic approach).
This understanding of human life as presented by holism puts it in the
ranks of dualism. Plato’s dualism is shared and also found in Eastern
and Western religious tradition. In dualism the body and soul are seen
as making up human life but they are distinct and separate. In holistic
language they are parts of the whole. The soul is seen as immortal and
trapped in the human mortal body (Howard, Stanford online
Encyclopedia). Death therefore separates the mortal body and the
immortal soul. These are the sentiments of Nirvana in Buddhism,
Reincarnation in Hinduism, Ancestor worship through libation in
African Traditional Religion (Nyaundi, 2004, p. 293), prayers for the
dead in some protestant and non-protestant churches and the key
thought behind witchcraft and western horror movies.
Wholism on the other hand presents human life as made of parts
but never divisible, not even at the time of death. Though the human
being is made of body, soul and spirit, he is mortal entirely. “The
Bible maintains a wholistic understanding of human nature, death
does not divide the body from soul so as to permit the soul to
continue existing (soul immortality). Rather, death brings the whole
life to a complete end. No function of human life survives death”
(Dederen, 2000, p. 317).

The formula for human life, clearly expressed throughout

the Bible, leads to a wholistic understanding of human
nature. ‘The Hebrew conceived man as an animated body
and not as an incarnate soul’ (Robinson 70). Human nature,
whether in illness or health, at birth or at death, does not
constitute a composite of parts, each of which can be viewed

66 Rei Towet Kesis

 or treated separately from any other part. The contemporary
expressions ‘psychosomatic illness’ and ‘whole-person care’
represent recognition of this understanding of human nature,
that a human being is a single whole and must be treated as
such. The biblical terminology of human nature corresponds
consistently to this wholistic view (Dederen, 2000, p. 317).

Usage of holistic and wholistic reveals that they do not mean the
same thing and they have religious implications. Holism views the
human life as made of parts that are ultimately divisible and sees the
human soul as unconditionally immortal. Wholism on the other hand
views human life as made of parts that are not divisible and perceives
the human soul as mortal and conditionally immortal.

V. Wholistic or Holistic? Does it matter?

The religious connotations and implications carried by these two

words, is what makes our choice of either to matter. Wholistic or
holistic is a question of a preferred worldview. Wholism views the
world and particularly human life as made of parts that are united and
inseparable.

This wholistic understanding of human nature holds great

importance for health care, social services, education, and
other services provided for those in need. It means that
when attempting to cure or care for a particular problem, the
entire person must be considered. Physical and
psychological ailments are intertwined. Mind, heart, and
body must be considered in true education. Spiritual and
mental disorders must be addressed together. In short, the
biblical understanding of human nature holds wide-reaching
consequences for critical issues facing our society (ibid.).

“The wholistic understanding of human development, eventually

brought about Seventh-day Adventist commitment to health care and
education” (Dederen, 2000, p. 341). Adventists therefore offer a
wholistic education and health care as opposed to a holistic education
and health care.
Seventh-day Adventists have neither subscribed to holism nor
evolution. “The wholistic understanding of human nature, coupled

AAMM, Vol. 5, 67
with the teaching of conditional immortality, has been advocated
consistently from the pulpit of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
since its founding, at times in the face of opposition from other
Christian and secular traditions” (ibid.).

A. New Age Movement and Holism

The opposition to wholism as faced by Seventh-day Adventists

from within and outside is from holists. Holists find a vehicle to sell
their theory in the New Age Movement. “New age motifs are openly
embraced by some liberal Christians, while the New Age Movement
is also sucking up many of the more familiar doctrines and
orthodoxies, religious and political, of the liberal churches” (Chandler,
1993, p. 20). As expressed in the following quote, the New Age
Movement is identified by its holistic worldview.

The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement

that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its
central precepts have been described as "drawing on both
Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions
and then infusing them with influences from self-help and
motivational psychology, holistic health, parapsychology,
consciousness research and quantum physics "It aims to
create "a spirituality without borders or confining dogmas"
that is inclusive and pluralistic. Another of its primary traits
is holding to "a holistic worldview," thereby emphasizing
that the Mind, Body and Spirit are interrelated[1] and that
there is a form of Monism and unity throughout the universe.
It further attempts to create "a worldview that includes both
science and spirituality" and thereby embraces a number of
forms of science and pseudoscience” (emphasis mine,
Wikipedia, New Age-Holistic health).

We note a significant similarity of purpose in the New Age

Movement, ecumenical movement and Smuts’ intention that holism
will unite the people of the world. However the main concern
overriding all other concerns in the New Age Movement is human
spirituality (Jones, 1992, p. 11). “The New Age movement is
understood to be a broad coalition of various networking
organizations that (a) believe in a new world religion (pantheism), (b)
are working for a new world order, and (c) expect a New Age Christ”
(Miyayo, 1995, p. 4).

68 Rei Towet Kesis

 VI. Conclusion

Holism is the parent to the New Age Movement and is opposed to

the biblical worldview. The use of either wholism or holism matters.
These are opposing worldviews. As Miyayo (1995, p. 3) puts it, “the
New Age movement is diametrically opposed to Judeo-Christian
theism.” Seventh-day Adventist teaching and practice is not holistic
and is opposed to holism.
Seventh-day Adventists view their lifestyle, education and
healthcare systems as being wholistic, in spite of dictionary changes.
Dictionaries are not a source of Christian doctrine. Dictionaries can
therefore not arbitrate the matter between wholistic and holistic.
Dictionaries, for example, have changed their views of what and
when the Sabbath is, yet the biblical position remains unaltered.
Wholistic or holistic? Does it matter? Yes it matters.

References

Chandler, Russell (1993). Understanding the New Age. Grand

Rapids: Zondervan.
Chepkwony, Adam Kiplagat arap (2011). Re-discovering African
Wholistic Approach to Life: Ways of Acquiring and
Appropriating Knowledge. Moi University Inaugral Lecture 13
Series No. 2 2011. Eldoret: Moi University Press.
Dederen, Raoul (ed.) (2000). Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist
Theology. Commentary Series Vol. 12. Hagerstown: Review
and Herald Publishing Association.
Geisler, Norman L. (1987). The New Age Movement, Bibliotheca
Sacra, 144(January-March).
Gove, Philip Babcok (ed.) (1961). Unabridged. Webster’s Third New
International Dictionary. Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster Inc.
Jones, Peter (1992). The Gnostic Empire Strikes Back: An Old Heresy
for the New Age. Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed.
Knight, George R. (1995). “Adventism’s Missiological Quadrilateral:
A Wholistic Approach to World Mission” in The Development
of the SDA Church in Eastern Africa, edited by K. B. Elineema,
17-30, Dar es Salaam: Dar es Salaam University Press.

AAMM, Vol. 5, 69
Miyayo, Lameck (1995). Historical and Philosophical-Theological
Foundations of the New Age Movement With Missiological
Implications. Unpublished Term Paper for the Course CHIS
680 Studies in World Mission, Theological Seminary,
Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies.
Nyaundi, Nehemiah M. (2004). Introduction to the Study of Religion.
Eldoret : Zapf Chancery Publishers.
Robinson, H. W. (1946). Inspiration and Revelation in the Old
Testament. Toronto: Oxford University Press.

Internet Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age#Holistic_health (accessed
September 29, 2011)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Smuts#Holism_and_related_academ
ic_work (accessed September 29, 2011)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holistic_approach (accessed October 12,
2011)
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Holism(accessed
October 12, 2011)
Robinson, Howard, “Dualism” The Stanford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy (Winter 2011
Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), forthcoming URL=
http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2011/entries/dualism
(accessed November 08, 2011).

70 Rei Towet Kesis