Yesterday I referred to the traditional version of the Hippocratic Oath, which begins with these words: “I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant . . .” Some people object to the pagan roots of this ancient oath for those about to practice medicine. Others object to its belief in divine realities and the connection of those realities to the art of healing. Needless to say, I’m committed to the idea that there is indeed a connection between religion, medicine, and science. Doctors do not merely deal with symptoms and diseases. They deal with human beings and their human frailties. That’s also what I encounter in pastoral relationships, and I believe, as a Christian, that God is very much present in the midst of the realities of human suffering.
One of the great things about living in Minnesota is having access to Mayo Clinic in Rochester. More than a few members of my congregation have been able to receive vital treatment there for a variety of life-threatening illnesses. There are two Episcopal congregations in Rochester. One is surrounded by this major medical center, and both have volunteers who are available to visit patients from around the world when requested. This is a wonderful ministry in a setting where those who are sick and far from home can feel very much alone.
This evening the Veritas Forum at Mayo Clinic opens with a lecture by Dr. Farr A. Curlin, entitled “What moves the scalpel? Science, Religion, and the Practice of Medicine.” Dr. Curlin is the founding Director of the Program on Medicine & Religion, working with colleagues from both the medical school and the divinity school at the University of Chicago. Then on Friday evening, Dr. Alvin Plantinga will speak about “Science and Religion: Where the Real Conflict Lies.” Dr. Plantinga has taught philosophy for more than five decades, mostly at the University of Notre Dame and Calvin College. It makes the heart glad to know that these kinds of conversations are taking place at Mayo Clinic and that its Spirituality in Healthcare Committee is promoting them.
