The Christian doctrine of health : a handbook on the relation of bodily to spiritual and moral health / by the author of "Pro Christo et ecclesia."

  • Dougall, L. (Lily), 1858-1923.
Date:
1916
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Christian doctrine of health : a handbook on the relation of bodily to spiritual and moral health / by the author of "Pro Christo et ecclesia.". Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    d. In this connection we must also note the traditional phraseology which refers to sickness, as well as other misfortunes, as ‘ the Christian’s Cross.’ B. In attempting to meet this traditional view of disease we are hound to consider its value carefully and respectfully. There is nearly always something true in a traditional view, as well as something false, though this is not always the case. We submit the following considerations : 1. We find in examining the history of Christian Europe that some traditions that were long held very generally, have been discarded as whollv false. E.g. a. For a long time it would have been considered most unseemly for a person who aspired to a holv life to be meticulously clean. To be dirty, as proving neglect of the body, was considered necessary to sanctity. b. Penitential practices injurious to the physical frame the sort of thing which culminated in the Order of Flagellants was for many Christian cen¬ turies, by almost every religious person in Europe, supposed to be especially pleasing to God. r. 1 he doctrine that marriage and parenthood was a way of serving God inferior to that of the celibate lib* was carried into Christianity from certain pre- Christian cults e.g. the cult of Isis, Buddhism, the cult of A esta till it gradually obtained complete sway in Western Europe. 2. We must consider also that our Lord’s ministry was a continual protest against the unquestioning acceptance of the religious tradition of 11 is dav. He urged men to bring to this tradition the test of humble