Medicine and the Church: Being a series of studies on the relationship between the practice of medicine and the church's ministry to the sick
Religion
Medicine and the Church: Being a series of studies on the relationship between the practice of medicine and the church's ministry to the sick
Medicine -- Religious aspects; Pastoral medicine
It has been indicated already that the first great difficulty
experienced by a medical man, in discussing such a treatment as
Spiritual Healing, is the definition of terms. Accustomed to deal with
more or less concrete facts, a doctor has some sort of mental picture
of an infectious disease, as the reaction of the physical body to the
invasion of a germ or its poison; he can see and feel a tumour, and
determine its relation to anatomical structures, though he may not know
as yet the cause of its growth; he has learnt by experience the results
of the removal of new growths.
In the region of the mind also he has investigated many phenomena; he
is able to attribute many insane states to toxic influences; he has
studied to some extent diseases known as ‘functional’--a class that is
becoming numerically less with the advance of knowledge; but he is not
able to grasp to the same extent the meaning of the word ‘Spirit.’ The
medical man recognises in many cases the influence of the temperament
or character of the patient upon the course of the disease, and would
prefer to treat one who takes a hopeful view of the future; just as he
desires quiet cheerful surroundings, and the avoidance of conditions
that tend to irritate or depress. In so far as the ‘Spiritual’ attitude
of the patient conduces to his peace of mind, its assistance would
be welcomed by every practitioner of the healing art. But to regard
this ill-defined attitude as not only influencing the character of the
patient, but also as having a direct effect on all the ailments to
which the body is subject, is a view that can hardly be accepted so
readily. For example, it would seem to be inconceivable that Spirit
could have the slightest influence on a parasitic skin disease such as
ringworm.
This is an instance of a simple ailment due to a local extrinsic cause.
Numerous other conditions might be mentioned, such as congenital
malformation, aneurysms, valvular affections of the heart, and
strangulated hernia in which curative influence of the Spirit is
difficult to imagine. Even if a single well-authenticated miracle in a
case of any of these affections could be produced, we should still be
met by many difficulties; such as the question why a solitary sufferer,
possibly not highly distinguished for his spiritual attributes, should
be selected for the manifestation of this power. And all rational
people would admit that the occurrence of such a miracle in a case
of strangulated hernia would not justify other patients in postponing
operation in the hope of a repetition of this bloodless cure.
Thus there are limitations to the field of operation of Spiritual
Healing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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