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Health Care and the Rise of Christianity
"In Health Care and the Rise of Christianity Avalos helpfully turns our attention to the care of bodies as fundamental to the growth and expansion of early Christianity. Response to basic issues such as cost, access to care, and perceived efficacy helped to fashion an early Christian system of health care that was distinct from contemporary approaches. Avalos raises eminently relevant questions about the role of ideas and practices of health care in the attractiveness of new religious movements, both historically and today."Nancy L. Eiesland, Candler School of Theology, Emory University"Professor Avalos brings his considerable expertise in medical anthropology to the study of health care systems in the ancient cultures out of which Christianity arose. His analysis of the role played by health care in the advent of Christianity is carefully constructed through cross cultural and interdisciplinary methodologies, and presented in a readable format which makes his results easily accessible to the specialist and layperson alike. This book is a must for anyone interested in the topic, or concerned about the ethical and long term implications of a modern health system care in crisis."Carole R. Fontaine, Andover Newton Theological School
176 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
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About the author
Hector Avalos
15 books36 followersHector Avalos is a professor of Religious Studies at Iowa State University and the author of several books about religion. He is a former Pentecostal preacher and child evangelist. Recognized as one of the foremost scholars of health care in the ancient world, Avalos is also one of the most prominent secular humanist biblical scholars today.
He has a Doctor of Philosophy in Hebrew Bible and Near Eastern Studies from Harvard University (1991), a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School (1985), and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Arizona in 1982.
Avalos arrived at Iowa State University in the Fall of 1993 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship (1991-93) in the departments of Anthropology and Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1996 Avalos was named Professor of the Year at Iowa State University, where he was also named a Master Teacher for 2003-04. Other awards include The Early Achievement in Research and Creative Activity Award (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 1996), and the Outstanding Professor Award (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 1996).
Since his arrival at Iowa State, Avalos has become an internationally-recognized critic of Intelligent Design creationism, and he is often linked with Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez, the advocate of Intelligent Design who was denied tenure at Iowa State University in 2007. Avalos co-authored a statement against Intelligent Design in 2005, which was eventually signed by over 130 faculty members at Iowa State University. That faculty statement became a model for other statements at the University of Northern Iowa and at the University of Iowa. Gonzalez and Avalos are both featured in the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008).
He has a Doctor of Philosophy in Hebrew Bible and Near Eastern Studies from Harvard University (1991), a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School (1985), and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Arizona in 1982.
Avalos arrived at Iowa State University in the Fall of 1993 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship (1991-93) in the departments of Anthropology and Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1996 Avalos was named Professor of the Year at Iowa State University, where he was also named a Master Teacher for 2003-04. Other awards include The Early Achievement in Research and Creative Activity Award (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 1996), and the Outstanding Professor Award (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 1996).
Since his arrival at Iowa State, Avalos has become an internationally-recognized critic of Intelligent Design creationism, and he is often linked with Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez, the advocate of Intelligent Design who was denied tenure at Iowa State University in 2007. Avalos co-authored a statement against Intelligent Design in 2005, which was eventually signed by over 130 faculty members at Iowa State University. That faculty statement became a model for other statements at the University of Northern Iowa and at the University of Iowa. Gonzalez and Avalos are both featured in the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 6, 2008
Avalos posits that the Christian approach to health care, as outlined primarily in the Bible, was one of the primary and contributing factors to the rise of Christianity. Compared to other health care systems, Christianity--with its focus on healing through faith--was affordable, egalitarian, simple, and workable compared to other religions/health care systems.
I was intrigued by the notion that religions can and do serve as "health care systems," and Avalos does a good job making his points in this area. He fails, however, to make a convincing case that health care was a primary factor. In fact, during the time period that Avalos addresses, Christianity spread fairly slowly, and by the time it was more established, conventional health care had become more prevalent.
Still, this book was interesting, and would simply work better if it were entitled "Understanding Early Christianity as a Health Care System."
I was intrigued by the notion that religions can and do serve as "health care systems," and Avalos does a good job making his points in this area. He fails, however, to make a convincing case that health care was a primary factor. In fact, during the time period that Avalos addresses, Christianity spread fairly slowly, and by the time it was more established, conventional health care had become more prevalent.
Still, this book was interesting, and would simply work better if it were entitled "Understanding Early Christianity as a Health Care System."
August 2, 2015
A very easy to read book. Partly because Avalos has an orderly mind and partly because he keeps the focus limited. If you are interested in how health care worked in the Roman empire, this is your book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews