Abstract
I wish to begin an exploration of this very important topic by sharing with you a few preliminary thoughts, which might serve to indicate the context in which I propose to make this presentation.
First, there is a statement from Hippocrates which goes like this: “The trouble with doctors today is that they separate the soul from the body. They do not recognize that the soul and the body are one.” The patron of medical practice, Hippocrates, was in this respect a 20th century Christian theologian in his witness against any form of dualism in the human person. Second, St. Paul wrote to the early Christians at Corinth to register his utter detestation against their gross immorality, and he challenged his converts with this question: “Do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body”.
(I Cor. 6:19,20). Our bodies are understood to be more than just centers of emotion and feeling, they are places of abode for that which is greater than what we can ever become or understand. Thirdly, the symbol of medicine is that of two serpents entwined on a staff—representing wisdom and the healing power of mother nature. We are told that the priests of Asclepius the father of medicine used the
serpent as the sacred animal in the mystery cult. The serpent is also portrayed in the Bible as the animal of cunning which is associated with the origin of sin in the human race in the Garden of Eden. The question posed by the continuous crawl of the serpent is this: is there a connection between wisdom, nature, and sin? If so, what is it? Fourth, we have been growing quite accustomed to hearing a great deal about law-suits against donors for medical mal-practices. We have encouraged mixed feelings about this escalating trend, not only because of the attendant possibility of increased costs in the delivery of health care, but also because of the increased mental pressure of members of the medical profession. All are bound to suffer in one way or another. Doctors can now take some comfort from the fact that they have been joined by the clergy in the litigation arena for mal-practice, since a California court has been considering what is reputed to be the first law-suit for clergy mal-practice in US legal history. I suspect that there are those who would ask why it took so long in coming.