« Weekly Forum

Victoria Terry

The Battle of Religion and Modern Medicine

In Sacred Tale: I, Aelius Aristides is an obedient servant to a god that speaks to him through dreams. During the midst of several struggles that seemed detrimental to his health, Aelius dutifully follows the instruction and will of his god. This is the case even when the health and medical specialists of his time give their expert opinions on how to make him better.  It's almost frustrating how it he refuses listen to the doctors and surgeons, etc. when it comes to these severe health complications. But he is emboldened in his faith every time he gets better or survives what looked like deadly illnesses simply by following the will and words of his god.

In today's society, medicine takes more of a precedence. We have tried and true practices and remedies and cures that one would think no sane individual could ever turn away. And yet people do. There are anti-vaxxers and herbal doctors and people who prefer to rely completely on religious or natural "medicines" to deal with their illnesses and ailments.  Throughout this course, I have often found myself wondering how it is that primitive or less advanced humans survived for very long without modern medicines and society to fall back on.  How did mothers deal with childbirth and how did  humanity survive a common cold (let alone massive plagues) without medicines and doctors and experts. Reading these passages has me convinced that religion is/ was more powerful that modern society gives credit for. And that perhaps faith and will were stronger at times than mass knowledge.

0 replies
Older discussion
Newer discussion