Religion on the Mind Modern Medicine is Still Religious (#365)
Dec 4, 2025
Nathan Carlin, a Professor of Medical Humanities and author of The Secularization of Medicine, dives into the intriguing parallels between modern doctors and ancient priests. He explores how hospitals have replaced cathedrals, focusing on the shift from spiritual to bodily salvation. Topics include the moral complexities of medical ethics through the harrowing Dax case, the tensions between patient autonomy and physician authority, and the implications of Canada's MAID program. Carlin highlights the historical intertwining of religion and medicine, revealing a captivating narrative of evolving societal values.
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Hospitals As Modern Cathedrals
- Nathan Carlin observes modern medical centers function as society's cathedrals and physicians act like high priests.
- He argues secular society prioritizes bodily salvation over the soul, shifting moral authority to medicine.
Reformation's Role In Authority Crisis
- The Protestant Reformation destabilized religious authority and created a crisis of epistemology in the West.
- Carlin argues that opening interpretation to individuals paved the way for new secular authorities like medicine.
Medicine's Religious Roots
- The Hippocratic Oath originally invoked Apollo and medical ethics were historically grounded in religion.
- Carlin notes the explicit religious basis in the American Medical Association code until the 19th century.
