Dark medicine Book

Pretty interesting, especially in these covid days. Author takes historical look at how religion (primarily Christian) has approached illness since early medieval days. He looks at "lovesickness" which is not really clear as to what illness that was, perhaps depression or other mental illness, or just a handy term for any non infectious illness. Also, leprosy, syphilis, plague, masturbation, and AIDS. Well, as you might imagine from the title, the church is not very helpful, and basically, even now, regards illness as god's judgment upon a sinner. As the world has become more secular, it has gotten better, but the aids fights of the 80's definitely show the power the established Christian church hierarchies still hold. Of course, across all times and places, there were deeply religious folks who acted with kindness and compassion towards the ill. Sadly, those seem to be more the exception than the rule - and it seems that generally church bureaucracies were generally not compassionate and much more interested in self preservation than rendering service.

Other general observations, throughout 2020 (and now 2021) I hear well meaning folks stating things like the Christian supporters of Donald Trump and other right wingers are not "truly" Christian. Well, when you look at the overwhelming history of the church, the MAGA folks are acting just as eons of historical Christians have. That is who they are. Condemning and judgmental, and always trying to enforce their beliefs on others.

Second, many liberals seem to say things like we just need to wait for this group of old racist white folks to die, and then things will get better. (Think Mitch McConnell for example) Well, as I read the AIDS chapter in this book, lots of old white republican politicians names came up. Reagan, Pat Buchanan, Jerry Falwell (the elder), Jesse Helms amongst others. These guys from the 1980's are dead or very near to it. Yet, nothing changed, they have been replaced by others with similar beliefs. Simply waiting them out is not going to effect change.