8 examples of how religion takes care of the health of believers

Many people notice that the rules prescribed to their followers by different religions are very similar to modern health tips published in magazines and on the Internet. This is not a coincidence – for many centuries before the advent of effective medicine, it was religion that was the main defender of humanity from diseases and other misfortunes of the surrounding world.

We will tell you about 8 religious canons of different religions and their movements, which quite accurately reflect modern medical views on different aspects of life. Well, unless they are more primitive and, sometimes, too harsh. Nothing can be done – these rules are literally "written in blood", because all the cones people in ancient times had to fill themselves.

The popular concept of "quarantine" appeared a long time ago. The ancient Jews had a rule that a person who had signs of any skin disease ("tzaraat"), from eczema to leprosy, had to voluntarily go to the desert and die there. This rule is described in the Book of Leviticus and the Jews were convinced that tzaraat never just appears.

The Jews believed that diseases manifested by skin symptoms were a punishment for sins. The exception was the righteous Job, on whom plagues were sent not because of his unrighteous actions, but by the decision of God, as a test of his faith and humility. If a person who was away from people survived and was cured, he could return to the people and ask to be examined by a priest. If the priest found no sign of tsaraat, the lucky man was declared forgiven and accepted back into the society.

In all the world's religions, there are prohibitions on different dishes and products. The religious rules of the Jews, the so-called "kashrut", are especially full of restrictions. It is based on the instructions of Moses, which the prophet gave to his people during a long journey through the desert. The leader of the Jewish people indicated the meat of which birds, animals and fish can be eaten, and which are not.

Modern scholars, having studied the restrictions imposed by Moses, have found them quite reasonable. They were aimed at preventing poisoning and epidemics, which would be very inconvenient in a long journey. Moses forbade eating mainly meat of predators and scavengers, which could be toxic, as well as sea fish, among which there are poisonous specimens.

Much has been said about the benefits of fasting, and it is well known that even the greatest physiologist Pavlov highly appreciated this method of cleansing the body. The scientist wrote about fasting as follows:

This is not surprising, because the body, deprived of food, mobilizes all its forces to detect it, kill it and eat it. Fasting is absolutely in all religions and everywhere it occupies a very important place. Even in ancient times, people took lightness, clarity of feelings and thoughts, pride in their willpower, associated with food abstinence, for a blessing sent down from above.

Most of the world's religions do not mention the benefits of fresh air. But it is well known that in Buddhism, this factor of health is definitely given a lot of attention. Buddha Gautama has repeatedly said that fresh air is an excellent remedy for bodily and mental ailments.

Moreover, the founder of Buddhism instructed his followers not to have a home at all, but to spend their lives wandering, that is, constantly moving and enjoying the fresh air and the beauty of the surrounding world. It is not surprising that the wandering Buddhist monks retained strength, energy and clarity of thought until a very old age – movement and constant change of environment have a beneficial effect on both the body and the mind.

In Judaism, the rules of hygiene occupy a very prominent place. But Christianity focused more on the soul and was indifferent to washing and washing. But the greatest passion for cleanliness has always been Islam. It is known that the Prophet Muhammad was incredibly fastidious and therefore very clean person. The founder of Islam could not communicate with people in dirty clothes, who smelled bad, or with those who came to him after the latrine without washing their hands.

This is how Muhammad instructed his followers, and given the times, climate, and conditions in which his countrymen lived, weekly bathing could be considered the height of cleanliness. Muslims are instructed to wash their face, feet and hands, rinse their mouths, blow their noses, and clean their ears five times a day before performing salat. Islam requires that the faithful wash themselves after every toilet session and sex, and once every 40 days remove the pubic and armpit hair.

Having sex during menstruation significantly increases the likelihood of transmission of various infections. Therefore, in many religions, not only to have sex, but even to touch a woman these days is prohibited. Now that barrier contraceptives and antibiotics have appeared, many have given up on this rule, but some particularly conservative religious movements continue to follow the canons.

Judaism, which generally devotes a lot of time to blood magic, claims that during the days of menstruation, a woman is ritually unclean. Blood is believed to have great magical powers and is especially dangerous for men who need to stay away from it. This "uncleanness" has been in the hands of the Jews at all times. When a woman could take a break from all her chores and worries, from cooking to praying.

Restrictions for women on critical days are also found in Islam and partly in Christianity. Some churches do not allow women to visit on these days and require them to pray at home. In Orthodoxy, there is no strict prohibition, but some priests warn that parishioners do not come to communion in this state and do not touch the icons. There were also prohibitions for women in Russia concerning common areas, for example, baths.

According to information provided by WHO, phimosis, that is, the inability to completely bare the head of the penis, affects up to 10% of men on the planet. This problem not only contributes to the development of genital infections, but can also cause permanent injuries. But all these misfortunes do not threaten Jews, Muslims and adherents of some Christian movements, for whom the circumcision of boys in childhood is a mandatory ritual.

It is believed that circumcision is useful not only for men, but also for their sexual partners. The absence of pathogenic bacteria developing under the foreskin reduces the likelihood of such a dangerous disease as cervical cancer by 70%. It is unlikely that the ancient Jews knew such nuances – they sacrificed the foreskin to the demon of the desert. Before that, it was necessary to sacrifice a first-born boy to the bloodthirsty deity, so the progressiveness of circumcision is obvious here.

Now vegetarianism and its more radical form – veganism, are very popular. At the same time, every year the voices of scientists who warn against this method of nutrition, which deprives the body of important nutrients, sound louder and louder. It has already been found that the rejection of animal proteins causes disorders in the development of children, worsens the work of the intestines, reduces brain activity.

Therefore, a plant-based diet is not recommended for children and is generally now considered a very individual practice. In most religions, not only is there no prohibition on eating meat food, but there are even instructions on when and how to eat it. The Prophet Muhammad instructed Muslims to eat meat at least every forty days, and Christians are forbidden to eat animals only during fasting.

A special position on this issue is taken by Buddhism, in which there is no strict ban on meat, but there are a number of conditions. For example, you can eat meat dishes only if the Buddhist himself did not kill the animal and did not contribute to its murder. That is, the meat dish should be prepared at the initiative of the host, and not at the request of the believer. In addition, in Buddhism, it is forbidden to eat the meat of a person, hyena, tiger, snake, lion, elephant, leopard, horse and bear.