We like to deny the existence of God. Why? I think It is because in this century we don't want to be accountable to any one. We want to create our own rules. But the problem is that left to our own devices, our "rules" lead to discrimination, determining that the government should handle the poor and the ill, and allowing many people, especially over seas, to mock our beliefs. Those in the far east, die for their beliefs.
Our country claims to be one of religious freedom. However, we are told not to take it out of our home or churches. Yet, our Christianity is what makes us who we are. We originally were created in the image of God. Adam and Eve sinned. They were thrown out of the garden. Yes, they had help in their decision from the tempter, but all they had to do was to follow ONE rule.
When Jesus came to earth, He said that He and His Father were One. He laid done two "rules". Love the Lord your God with everything you have, and love your neighbor (meaning everyone) as you do your self. He forgave those who tortured Him, and killed Him.His disciples forgave those who hunted them down and killed them. John was burnt in boiling oil, survived and was able to dictate his letters, gospel and revelation.
The response to all this is usually bringing up the sins of the crusades, and the excesses of the Popes. Yet what we all must realize is that believers are people, good and bad. The best way to "act to the glory of God" is to pray about it first. Make sure it conforms to His doctrine, and then act. Yes the middle ages were not the best PR for the church. They were wrong.
However, believers have been the first to care for the wounded, the ill, the poor and the homeless. Hippocrates is credited with a scientific approach to disease, and an ethical oath. He also listened to the sounds of the body.
But, he also used the temples of
Saturn, Hygeia and Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine all served as both
medical schools for practitioners and resting places for patients under
observation or treatment.
The decree of the emperor Constantine in335 AD closed all other "hospitals" and encouraged the building of Christian hospitals. In approximately 370 AD St Basil of Ceaserea established a religious foundation in Cappodocia which included an isolation unit for those with leprosy, and buildings for the poor, elderly and the sick. In the early sixth century, the care of the sick and the needy were placed above all other Christian duties. The first medical school grew from this concept in Salerno
and had a wonderful reputation by the eleventh century, this led to several more such monastic infirmaries in the western part of the empire.
In the Middle Ages, religious communties took over care for the sick. Religious orders emphasized nursing care, and the first order to become completely devoted to nursing alone were the Augustine nuns. Hospital construction increased by the request of Pope Innocent in 1198. Once again they took in the hopeless and homeless. The Knights of the Hospitalers were the "medics" on the battle fields of the "holy war" . They dealt with more than injury and death, mysterious eye diseases were its specialty. It is said that they learned from their Moslem compatriots, as the Moslem system was different than theirs. This order still remains as an ambulance corps.
During the end of the middle ages, care for the sick started to transfer to the government. In 1540 Henry the eight dissolved the monostaries. During the renaissance, discoveries about human anatomy were made, patients were seperated according to their diseases, and surgical methods grew by leaps and bounds.
Once again, those who travelled to the "New World", the Christians, set up hospitals, places for the poor to eat, and places for the poor to stay.
