Christian Monasticism and the Making of Modern Medicine in London
Abstract
Christian monasteries were the first formal healthcare settings in London. They defined doctors as Jesus-imitators, hospitals as inclusive shelters, and medicine as the holistic treatment of mental, spiritual, and physical maladies. Today, London’s medical students are taught to strive towards Christian values like empathy and patience and London’s model of free healthcare represents inclusivity and generosity. But because medicine has evolved away from faith, London’s healthcare ultimately displays a watered-down image of its roots in love-based monastic service. This paper will examine how three values of monastic medicine in London during the Late Middle Ages— agape love, hospitality, and holism— have been adapted and weakened to suit the modern, secular healthcare system. I present medicine’s start as a Christian institution and connect Biblical values to the concept of healthcare as a whole. I then discuss the monastic medical values that shaped London’s healthcare, using evidence from museum exhibits, modern scholarship, and historical documentation. Then, I examine medicine’s shift to secularity and the values of modern medicine under this context using evidence from current medical school curricula and doctor and patient testimonials. It is concluded that, to strengthen the healthcare system, London should invest more resources into the National Health Service to uphold hospitals’ patient-centered promises, medical schools should offer courses on the teachings of monastic medicine and service to provide doctors with an accurate image of compassionate care, and hospitals should incorporate mindfulness practices and centers to address all of a patient’s needs, including emotional and spiritual.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Amanda Furiasse
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-3-2024 12:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2024 1:30 PM
Christian Monasticism and the Making of Modern Medicine in London
Alvin Sherman Library
Christian monasteries were the first formal healthcare settings in London. They defined doctors as Jesus-imitators, hospitals as inclusive shelters, and medicine as the holistic treatment of mental, spiritual, and physical maladies. Today, London’s medical students are taught to strive towards Christian values like empathy and patience and London’s model of free healthcare represents inclusivity and generosity. But because medicine has evolved away from faith, London’s healthcare ultimately displays a watered-down image of its roots in love-based monastic service. This paper will examine how three values of monastic medicine in London during the Late Middle Ages— agape love, hospitality, and holism— have been adapted and weakened to suit the modern, secular healthcare system. I present medicine’s start as a Christian institution and connect Biblical values to the concept of healthcare as a whole. I then discuss the monastic medical values that shaped London’s healthcare, using evidence from museum exhibits, modern scholarship, and historical documentation. Then, I examine medicine’s shift to secularity and the values of modern medicine under this context using evidence from current medical school curricula and doctor and patient testimonials. It is concluded that, to strengthen the healthcare system, London should invest more resources into the National Health Service to uphold hospitals’ patient-centered promises, medical schools should offer courses on the teachings of monastic medicine and service to provide doctors with an accurate image of compassionate care, and hospitals should incorporate mindfulness practices and centers to address all of a patient’s needs, including emotional and spiritual.
