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05/23/06
Biblical Medicine
Today I saw a reference to Don Colbert, a doctor who has written a whole series of books claiming to hold biblical insights into 21st century health issues. Apparently, the Bible provides help with treating Diabetes, ADD, Menopause, and Cancer.
Now, I can obviously respect people who look to the timeless principles of the Bible to provide guidance in their lives, but unless Dr. Colbert is advocating casting out demons and rubbing mud in people's eyes, I really don't see how the Bible can be applied to medical issues. And you may call me a heretic, but I think it's okay for Christians to believe that doctors today may know more about medicine than the authors of the Bible did.
In addition to all these "Bible Cure" books, Dr. Colbert has also published What Would Jesus Eat? (which I have had the misfortune of actually seeing on display in a bookstore). It seems to me that anyone who cares about what Jesus ingested is perhaps missing the point. In fact, I recall Jesus saying something once about what goes into a man's mouth.
4 comments
Was that above comment on topic spam?
I am now watching the simpsons on evolution and rolling out of my chair laughing.
You and I often think alike, but I have a different take on this. I haven't read Colbert, but I wouldn't so easily dismiss the idea that the Bible might have plenty to say about health as well as eating. We in the West tend to separate mind and body issues, but other cultures tend to be more aware that mind, body and spirit are all connected. As Christians, I think we should be especially aware of this since we believe God actually took on flesh--the gospel message is not for some ethereal disembodied beings. From the link you provided about Dr. Colbert, it sounds to me like he takes a pretty holistic approach in dealing with health issues. What's wrong with applying biblical principles to do that? When so much of the alternative health field is dominated by Eastern religion / new age adherents, I appreciate being able to find a Christian perspective on holistic medicine.
Ellen
That said, I agree that some general principles we find in the Bible, such as modesty, moderation, and stewardship can be applied to matters of nutrition and health. Given that, it seems that one or two general books about health could be gleaned from the Bible's teaching. The fact that this doctor is peddling no less than 30 different books claiming to reveal the "Bible Cure" for very specific health issues just seems like shameless commerce to me.
And I still think the What Would Jesus Eat? books is ridiculous. If he's advocating a sensible, moderate diet and ties it into general biblical principles, great. But he's selling it as the diet that Jesus actually ate which, again, smacks of shameless commerce and cheapens the whole point of Christ's existence.
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