Upload
corey-short
View
215
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
The Lessons from
Medical Science
“Is God Dead?”
2
References
Patrick Glynn, “God, The Evidence”, (1997)
Gerald L Schroeder, “The Science of God” (1997)
Newsweek magazine, July 27, 1998, “Science finds God”
Time magazine, June 24, 1996, “Faith & Healing”
Various articles from the Internet and CD-ROM encyclopaedias
3
Freudianism
Charge led by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Psychoanalysis - a major force in the secularisation of society
Considered science and religion to be incompatible In 1899 spoke of a “new religion of science” to replace
the “old religion”
Considered religion an “enemy” whose credibility must be destroyed
4
Freudianism
Freud repeatedly and aggressively attacked religion whenever he had opportunity to Called religion “a form of mental disorder”,
“narcissistic”, “an obsessional neurosis”
“Infantile” because religion thought to be a human invention to cope with the environment in the early evolutionary history of man
5
Freudianism
Inspired a revolution in morals, leading to sexual liberties and loosening of sexual prohibitions
Doctrines were widely discussed - not just in academic circles but also in women magazines and parties Recall the scene discussing Freud in “Titanic”
6
The Atheistic Bent
Other non-Freudian psychology theorists eg B F Skinner, also militant in their atheist belief
Freud shaped majority of psychologists for decades - and still does Only 43% of psychiatrist in US believe in God
in 1975, and only 1.1% of psychologists (1972) compared with 95% in the general population
7
The Failure of FreudianismTurn-around in the last 20 years
Science research in psychology is disproving that religion is a neurosis or the source of it
Sexual liberties promoted by Freudianism have not led to greater pleasures, freedom, openness, or more meaningful relationships Failure of Freudian psychoanalysis - case of Woody Allen vs Mia
Farrow (early ‘90s)
Allen spent years in psychoanalysis. Yet he had an affair with his wife’s 19-year old daughter.
8
The Failure of Freudianism
Instead led to emptiness, self-contempt, worthlessness, rise of disease and unwanted pregnancies, desperate sense of loneliness and guilt
9
The Failure of Freudianism
The famous Dr Benjamin Spock rewrote rules of child-rearing based on Freudian doctrine “Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care” 1946, 50 million copies
sold, in 42 languages
Advocated raising children with a gentle touch
But produced disastrous results for a whole generation of children Spare the rod and spoil the child (Prov 23:13-
14)
10
The Failure of Freudianism
Charges by government and church leadersand even some physicians
Branded “father of permissiveness” and “anti-authoritarian”
Held responsible for “Spock-marked generation of hippies”
Charged with “breakdown in discipline and a collapse of conventional morality”
Another prominent failure of Freudian doctrine
11
The Failure of Freudianism
Actually, no new discovery - already know these things from the Bible
Now however, there is abundant scientific research data to support what has long revealed to man
Modern research bears out that sin breeds misery - a morally unrestrained life erodes the value of life
12
Religion and Mental Health
On the other hand
Research shows strong relationship between religion and healthy lifestyle - depression, alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, etc Showed that 80% of the time religion helps
Higher levels of personal satisfaction and well-being - even career success
Scientists are rediscovering the human soul - cannot deny its existence through a denial of God, and starve its needs
13
Religion and Mental Health
Human mind designed to need faith - religion now considered a health factor for the mind
Post-secular paradigm for psychology: to understand the human mind, God and spirit must be considered
Synthesis of religion with psychoanalysis M Scott Peck’s “The Road Less Travelled” (1978) - on the
NY best-seller for 10 years “Chicken Soup” books
14
Atheism in Medicine
In line with atheistic tide in modernism, many medical experts atheistic or agnostic Due to misconception that religion was a human invention
in the evolutionary process
Since Darwinism is now discredited, and psychologists are now rediscovering the human soul, medical science is also shifting in same direction
Like in psychology, religion now regarded as a health factor for physical health
15
Medical Research
Research also shows strong link between religious commitment and physical health
Religion a powerful stress reducer, and hence positive impact on physical health
Like the Anthropic Principle, the human body and mind are designed for faith, i.e. “wired for God” (Herbert Benson, Harvard associate professor for medicine, an agnostic, 1996)
16
Medical Data
“Can prayer, faith and spirituality really
improve your physical health? A growing and
surprising body of scientific evidence says
they can.” (Time magazine, June 24, 1996)
17
Medical Data
From the National Institute of Health
Year Risk Amongst the religious (cf the non-religious)
1972 Heart disease 60%
1972 Suicide 50%
1989 Blood pressure 5 mm lower (lowers heartdisease by 10-20%)
18
More Medical Data
From a 1987 review of 250 epidemiological studies: positive correlation between religious faith and physical health
From 1991 analysis of National Opinion Research Centre showed same results
1960’s study of meditation by Harvard professor Dr Herbert Benson showed positive medical benefits - with majority of patients choosing a religious focus
19
Medical Data (TIME Magazine June 24, 1996)
A 1995 study at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center found that one of the best predictors of survival among 232 heart-surgery patients was the degree to which the patients said they drew comfort and strength from religious faith. Those who did not had more than three times the death rate of those who did.
Other studies have shown that men and women who attend church regularly have half the risk of dying from coronary-artery disease as those who rarely go to church. Smoking and socioeconomic factors were taken into account.
20
Medical Data (TIME Magazine June 24, 1996)
A survey of 30 years of research on blood pressure showed that churchgoers have lower blood pressure than non-churchgoers - 5 mm lower, according to Larson, even when adjusted to account for smoking and other risk factors.
In a study of 30 female patients recovering from hip fractures, those who regarded God as a source of strength and comfort and who attended religious services were able to walk farther upon discharge and had lower rates of depression than those who had little faith.
21
Medical Data (TIME Magazine June 24, 1996)
A 1996 National Institute on Aging study of 4,000 elderly living at home in North Carolina found that those who attend religious services are less depressed and physically healthier than those who don't attend or who worship at home.
Numerous studies have found lower rates of depression and anxiety-related illness among the religiously committed. Non-churchgoers have been found to have a suicide rate four times higher than church regulars.
22
Faith and Healing
“Faith in the medical treatment, [is] wonderfully
therapeutic, successful in treating 60% to 90% of
the most common medical problems. But if you so
believe, faith in an invincible and infallible force
carries even more healing power. . . It is a
supremely potent belief.” (Dr. Herbert Benson,
president of the Mind/Body Medical Institute of Boston's
Deaconess Hospital and Harvard Medical School)
23
Religion and Health
Harvard Medical School in Dec 95 held first conference on spirituality and healing in medicine, involving prominent physicians and theologians
US Congress created an Office of Alternative Medicine in the National Institute of Health in 1991 - charter includes investigation of mind/body effect
24
The Spiritual Consciousness
Abundant medical research data showing that faith and spirituality helps man’s health
Questions:
Why is the human body helped by religion?
Why is the human mind structured for faith?
There can only be one answer.
25
Wired for God
Medical research and data now verifying what we already know by revelation – God designed the human body so!
“Our genetic blueprint has made believing in an Infinite Absolute part of our nature” (Herbert Benson)
“He has put eternity in their hearts” (Ecclesiasties 3:11)