Naslov
Medicine and Christianity in the context of light and fire

Autori
Škrobonja, Anton ; Petaros, Anja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
V Meeting of the International Society for the History of Medicine Theme: Light and fire in medicine / Pierides, Alkis - Nikozija, 2009, 100-100

Skup
V Meeting of the International Society for the History of Medicine

Mjesto i datum
Nikozija, Cipar, 09.09.2009. - 12.09.2009

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
history of medicine; religion; protectors; patrons; light; fire

Sažetak
The line between medicine, magic and religion during history was very slight and imprecise. Throughout history illness has been attributed to demons, will of gods or astral influence. Many historical and ethnological examples evidence this transcendental perception of medicine in which three main figures appear: the demon/god as the cause of the illness and health, the patients and the healer as a passive mediator in the healing process. Such mystic perception of illness today still retains some power in religious beliefs including Christianity. In Christianity God is the absolute origin of health. But similarly to polytheism, were every divinity is protecting a specific domain of human life and work, in Christianity we also find a „ division of duties" among Saints. Depending on their life and period, Saints gradually become protectors of many aspects of life, among which health and disease as well. Many Saints protectors of disease appear also in the context of light and fire. Among protectors of burns St. Barbara, St. Florien, St. John the Evangelist, St. Lovro is cited. The symbol of light is present in the figure of St. Lucia- protector of eyes due to associative reasons (in Latin: lux, lucis = light). The reasons why people accepted individual saints as patrons of certain diseases are multifarious. It depends primarily on tortures suffered during their martyrdom, diseases they had and fought against but also due to associative reasons: like the ones deriving from the saints’ name or iconographical symbols.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Teologija, Etnologija i antropologija

POVEZANOST RADA