What an interesting essay, thank you. As an old lady of 80, I have a long memory. I remember how, in the late sixties and early seventies, many of us subscribed to a similar philosophy as part of the New Age dawning. Like many others, my family and I tried to grow our own food, campaigned against pollution and waste, ate healthily (macrobiotics was then the "in" diet, but there were others) and - those of us who were mothers - stayed home to take care of our young children instead of leaving them in nurseries. We purified our water, made the most of any sunshine by spending time outdoors (living in England, this was sometimes impossible) and many of us did realize that we were actually made of energetic vibrations. But missing from all of this was the Christian dimension. We thought we were being spiritual but were missing the source of all energy and all creation, Jesus, the Word of God. Our bodies may have stayed healthy for a long time, but our souls were lacking in spiritual energy. Without replenishment from that source, of course, full health cannot be maintained for long. And then came the eighties, when greed was good, and God was forgotten. If we can combine bodily health with the care of our souls, we will begin to know real wellbeing. I am very happy that younger people are rediscovering these truths and adding the recognition of our need for divine help. That generation will surely flourish.
As someone who is currently in a “mainstream” health professions school, I have been pleasantly surprised by just how often the idea of treating people holistically has been promoted and prioritized throughout my education. I think the opposition and gap between modern medicine and holistic practices is shrinking. These ideas are being taken seriously by professors and students of the younger generation , and I believe gen z will carry these ideas with them into the professional medical field.
I was a sickly baby, a weak child, and developed chronic health issues in my early 30s. Providential, I have a natural loathing of the modern medical industrial complex. I knew that what I didn't want was drugs and surgery. I wanted holistic help. I've worked with two chiropractors for a decade, slowly pulling back the onion-layers of my health. It's not perfect, and I'm not fully well, but I'm not on a mountain of drugs and I'm not getting parts cut out. I am regaining my health and building my health knowledge one step at a time.
The push-back I got for making the choice to not see a traditional doctor was much higher than I expected. People couldn't understand why I didn't just slap a bandaid (drug) on my health and get back to living life. The ease at which we just blindly pump drugs into our bodies is scary.
Nurishing Fats was also life changing for me. It really helped me understand how crazy our food consumption has become.
I don’t think many Christians have reckoned with how completely slothfulness has infected many aspects of our lives. When considering this fact it is unfortunately not shocking that many people choose to mask issues with pills and the like over working towards an actual solution.
Yes, the only thing I can add is, it's not very far. From what I understand, doctors are very open to alternative health, acupuncturists are in hospitals, and many such things are covered by insurance. We have the remaining scandal that no nutrition and less holistics are in medical schools, but if the Physicians are social open at this point, it's the practical matter they barely have time to learn what they're already learning. So don't be afraid to sound them out and even look for hospital/area resources that are mainstreamed, even financially.
Gospel was not a program for the physical health as many Christians understand it today. Health in a Biblical sense (or any book of wisdom) was a synonym of wholeness and holiness of a community of people. It did not presuppose immortality or never being sick. It meant caring for the sick, not unblocking energy flow obstruction.
Many people in the world — who die and live following traditions as religions that we misunderstand as temple worship rather than a physical way of living, just as we misunderstand the meaning of health — speak various words for soul or spirit as breath that animates a creature, a growing and living creature coming of humus, ocean, or trees.
We remain human by following the way of our ancestors who worshipped and out of the act of worshiping they became the kind of people they are by living in their respective ways as communities. Whatever physical health it entailed was something to accept rather than fight.
Not quite already humans who understand health as a standard normative absence of death and illness seem to attain longevity and physical health at the price of sacrificing community and relationships with others.
What I like best about this essay is your willingness to 'cross lines' with regards to chi and the Holy Spirit. Too many Christians derive what seem to me to be odd conclusions from the Gospel of John. There seems to be little willingness to think through the idea that humanity was created and how this will play out in practical terms in other times and places.
You seem to write with the assumption your readership is 'neo-right': while this may be true in broad-strokes, I'm sure there are a fair number of 'neo-left' folks, such as myself, interested in what you have to say. The need to bring in that particular prefix is, perhaps, a sign that the old left-right divide, which dates back to the French revolution, is in need of replacing with a more apposite metaphorical contrast. For the life of me, I don't know what it will be, but I do not believe it will involve adding 'extra dimensions' to the metaphor (as is commonly attempted) as this obscures what was actually helpful in having a left-right divide in the first place!
Finally, I'd like to offer this 3-minute reflection as a Coda to your "Medicine for Machines". It's entitled "The Disestablishment of the Medical Priesthood":
What an interesting essay, thank you. As an old lady of 80, I have a long memory. I remember how, in the late sixties and early seventies, many of us subscribed to a similar philosophy as part of the New Age dawning. Like many others, my family and I tried to grow our own food, campaigned against pollution and waste, ate healthily (macrobiotics was then the "in" diet, but there were others) and - those of us who were mothers - stayed home to take care of our young children instead of leaving them in nurseries. We purified our water, made the most of any sunshine by spending time outdoors (living in England, this was sometimes impossible) and many of us did realize that we were actually made of energetic vibrations. But missing from all of this was the Christian dimension. We thought we were being spiritual but were missing the source of all energy and all creation, Jesus, the Word of God. Our bodies may have stayed healthy for a long time, but our souls were lacking in spiritual energy. Without replenishment from that source, of course, full health cannot be maintained for long. And then came the eighties, when greed was good, and God was forgotten. If we can combine bodily health with the care of our souls, we will begin to know real wellbeing. I am very happy that younger people are rediscovering these truths and adding the recognition of our need for divine help. That generation will surely flourish.
There was a lot of good in the hippie movement that got lost amidst the chaff
I think the main problem was that we thought we were gods ourselves. We were full of pride and forgot our Creator.
As someone who is currently in a “mainstream” health professions school, I have been pleasantly surprised by just how often the idea of treating people holistically has been promoted and prioritized throughout my education. I think the opposition and gap between modern medicine and holistic practices is shrinking. These ideas are being taken seriously by professors and students of the younger generation , and I believe gen z will carry these ideas with them into the professional medical field.
I was a sickly baby, a weak child, and developed chronic health issues in my early 30s. Providential, I have a natural loathing of the modern medical industrial complex. I knew that what I didn't want was drugs and surgery. I wanted holistic help. I've worked with two chiropractors for a decade, slowly pulling back the onion-layers of my health. It's not perfect, and I'm not fully well, but I'm not on a mountain of drugs and I'm not getting parts cut out. I am regaining my health and building my health knowledge one step at a time.
The push-back I got for making the choice to not see a traditional doctor was much higher than I expected. People couldn't understand why I didn't just slap a bandaid (drug) on my health and get back to living life. The ease at which we just blindly pump drugs into our bodies is scary.
Nurishing Fats was also life changing for me. It really helped me understand how crazy our food consumption has become.
Thanks for this article!
I don’t think many Christians have reckoned with how completely slothfulness has infected many aspects of our lives. When considering this fact it is unfortunately not shocking that many people choose to mask issues with pills and the like over working towards an actual solution.
I think this is very insightful. Sloth and laziness defines us.
I gave up smoking about 15 months ago and then took up a gym membership and began lifting weights. I am now much more energetic than ever.
I am convinced this uses an investment model. You invest by putting in effort and it later pays a dividend in the form of more energy.
We have forgotten this. So people lie on the couch and wonder why they feel bad.
Yes, the only thing I can add is, it's not very far. From what I understand, doctors are very open to alternative health, acupuncturists are in hospitals, and many such things are covered by insurance. We have the remaining scandal that no nutrition and less holistics are in medical schools, but if the Physicians are social open at this point, it's the practical matter they barely have time to learn what they're already learning. So don't be afraid to sound them out and even look for hospital/area resources that are mainstreamed, even financially.
Gospel was not a program for the physical health as many Christians understand it today. Health in a Biblical sense (or any book of wisdom) was a synonym of wholeness and holiness of a community of people. It did not presuppose immortality or never being sick. It meant caring for the sick, not unblocking energy flow obstruction.
Many people in the world — who die and live following traditions as religions that we misunderstand as temple worship rather than a physical way of living, just as we misunderstand the meaning of health — speak various words for soul or spirit as breath that animates a creature, a growing and living creature coming of humus, ocean, or trees.
We remain human by following the way of our ancestors who worshipped and out of the act of worshiping they became the kind of people they are by living in their respective ways as communities. Whatever physical health it entailed was something to accept rather than fight.
Not quite already humans who understand health as a standard normative absence of death and illness seem to attain longevity and physical health at the price of sacrificing community and relationships with others.
"Somebody please... tell this machine I'm not a machine!"
https://youtu.be/I503zfF3QZs?si=DOEDtH9zRfAyHcog
Dear Andrew,
What I like best about this essay is your willingness to 'cross lines' with regards to chi and the Holy Spirit. Too many Christians derive what seem to me to be odd conclusions from the Gospel of John. There seems to be little willingness to think through the idea that humanity was created and how this will play out in practical terms in other times and places.
You seem to write with the assumption your readership is 'neo-right': while this may be true in broad-strokes, I'm sure there are a fair number of 'neo-left' folks, such as myself, interested in what you have to say. The need to bring in that particular prefix is, perhaps, a sign that the old left-right divide, which dates back to the French revolution, is in need of replacing with a more apposite metaphorical contrast. For the life of me, I don't know what it will be, but I do not believe it will involve adding 'extra dimensions' to the metaphor (as is commonly attempted) as this obscures what was actually helpful in having a left-right divide in the first place!
Finally, I'd like to offer this 3-minute reflection as a Coda to your "Medicine for Machines". It's entitled "The Disestablishment of the Medical Priesthood":
https://strangerworlds.substack.com/p/the-disestablishment-of-the-medical
With unlimited love,
Chris.