Good Health May Be Bad for You

[WilliamOK]

Funny and maybe true!
thecatholicthing.org/2015/02/06/good-health-may-bad/

The gentleman says that disease is normal and natural. It is the absence of disease that has made our lives a little unnatural, in recent history. Normally, say two centuries ago, half of the people reading this would be dead already. Most would have died young: there has been no increase in “life expectancy” except in some statistical sense. Some people have always made it to advanced old age. And some people always haven’t.

We look at nature, and see all these healthy animals. That is a reason to think it is natural to be healthy ourselves. But it is a bad reason. In nature, the moment something goes wrong for an animal, it gets eaten. (Never trust statistics.)

The article concludes with an observation on “mental health.” The writer notes that it “cannot even be defined.”

Confess, gentle reader, confess! . . .Don’t you feel uplifted already?

REST OF ARTICLE HERE:
thecatholicthing.org/2015/02/06/good-health-may-bad/

 

[Mike_Dye]

You know I had not thought much about it before, but I feel my absolute best after eating a double cheeseburger and sipping on a milk shake while lying down watching TV. I feel my worst after nothing but fruit and veggies and exercising.

 

[heidi_storage]

I thank God for the medical interventions that allowed me to survive my gestation; I probably would have been miscarried or stillborn even 60 years ago. Supreme devotion to health, as to anything except God, is idolatry; nevertheless, I see no reason to disparage health, or any of the other things God permits us to enjoy sometimes.

 

[7_Sorrows]

You know I had not thought much about it before, but I feel my absolute best after eating a double cheeseburger and sipping on a milk shake while lying down watching TV. I feel my worst after nothing but fruit and veggies and exercising.

And don’t forget the fries to go along with that double cheese and shake!!

 

[ClearWater]

And don’t forget the fries to go along with that double cheese and shake!!

lol

 

[TarkanAttila]

There is something to that. In the Didache it says: “You shall not practice magic. You shall not use potions. You shall not procure abortion, nor destroy a new-born child.” Among other things. Now, the “potions” are called “pharmakeia” in the Greek.

Hm. Now, whether or no we use drugs regularly, can we all agree the highest end of man does not in any way require pharmacology?

 

[ClearWater]

There is something to that. In the Didache it says: “You shall not practice magic. You shall not use potions. You shall not procure abortion, nor destroy a new-born child.” Among other things. Now, the “potions” are called “pharmakeia” in the Greek.

Hm. Now, whether or no we use drugs regularly, can we all agree the highest end of man does not in any way require pharmacology?

I think it’s helpful.

I think medicine, surgery, doctors, many good and helpful services come from God. It was unbelievable, before aspirin. It´s unbelievable what even aspirin has done for us!

St. Luke was a physician.

I don´t know where I’d be today without medication! Recall mental health before medication virtually revolutionized it? People were kept in chains!

 

[ClearWater]

If I were ever in a car accident, I would want REAL medicine! To me, it’s the abuse of medication that is the problem.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Well, it seemed to be mainly written for Catholics who are Nova Scotians, Yankees and / or Royalist Yankees, so as an Australian, good or bad health appears to be irrelevant.

I admit I had my appendix out when I was about six or seven, so a couple of centuries ago I probably would have died pretty young from peritonitis, but to be honest I don’t feel one bit guilty about it. I suppose they cremated my appendix all those years ago, so that’s one less thing to burn when they get around to it.

Meanwhile if it’s all the same to the OP, I’ll peg out when my times up, good health or bad.

 

[TarkanAttila]

I think it’s helpful.

I think medicine, surgery, doctors, many good and helpful services come from God.

I agree. I do agree. But is medicine essential to our survival?

St. Luke was a physician.

Fair point. Thank you for pointing that out. Not that I’d ever say medicine is evil. No, it is good. But is it anywhere close to the ultimate good?

 

[7_Sorrows]

I can’t imagine life without penicillin to cure a bronchial infection or a urinary tract infection or an abscessed tooth or any kind of infection and when I broke my ankle in 3 places I was very thankful for morphine!

 

[Cat]

I can’t imagine life without penicillin to cure a bronchial infection or a urinary tract infection or an abscessed tooth or any kind of infection and when I broke my ankle in 3 places I was very thankful for morphine!

Yes, I agree! I work in microbiology in our hospital lab, and it’s my personal opinion that emerging resistance of antibiotics is one of the three greatest health crises facing mankind. We’re talking catastrophe within a few decades if something isn’t done.

In the Book of Job, Chapters 38 and 29, the Lord challenges Job (and all mankind) to solve a list of “science questions.” There is no forbidding to study the questions or discover the answers (and man has discovered the answers to quite a few of God’s questions in Job!"

The entire book of Job makes it clear that God alone holds the keys to life and death.

If it is God’s perfect will for a human to live, the human will live no matter what is done or not done. Likewise, if it is God’s will for a human to die, they will die, no matter what is done or not done, no matter what meds are given or not given, no matter how many prayers are prayed or not prayed.

It makes sense to pray, as God gave King Hezekiah more years after a heartfelt prayer. But ultimately, it is in God’s hands, not ours. We should never feel that we didn’t pray enough or pray the “right prayers” when a loved one dies. And we should never refuse to pray for a loved one’s health because such prayer brings the one praying closer to God and helps them to submit with grace to God’s ultimate will.

And it makes sense to study and research new and better medical treatments, as God will not allow anything to happen outside of His will, and indeed, our discoveries ARE part of God’s will (or they wouldn’t work). Everything we research and “invent” has already been designed by God; it’s all part of His “master design” for the universe. We aren’t “creating” anything new–it’s all been conceived and designed by God “in the beginning.”

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

That was a great article. Now, off to Mcdonalds…

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

No offense but don’t you think this is rather a huge slap in the face to those who find meaning in their physical health?

We all have a very subjective idea on what’s healthy enough for us. If anything, the only point worth taking is that you should decide that for yourself. If stuffing yourself with hamburgers and drinking them down with two bottles of Coca Cola a day is what makes you happy and content, by all means indulge.

On the other hand, why fault people for changing the situation of their physical fitness? A man is sick of being scrawny so he learns how to fight. Are you going to tell him that he should rather leave the fight to God? Why lock your doors at night then or leave dogs to watch your gates?

After all, prevention’s better than cure. Then again, if everyone here is so keen on embracing death, feel free to do so. Don’t just envy/demonize those who would rather live forever and may have even found the means to do it. It only shows what you’ve been wanting for yourself the whole time.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Yes, I agree! I work in microbiology in our hospital lab, and it’s my personal opinion that emerging resistance of antibiotics is one of the three greatest health crises facing mankind. We’re talking catastrophe within a few decades if something isn’t done.

In the Book of Job, Chapters 38 and 29, the Lord challenges Job (and all mankind) to solve a list of “science questions.” There is no forbidding to study the questions or discover the answers (and man has discovered the answers to quite a few of God’s questions in Job!"

The entire book of Job makes it clear that God alone holds the keys to life and death.

If it is God’s perfect will for a human to live, the human will live no matter what is done or not done. Likewise, if it is God’s will for a human to die, they will die, no matter what is done or not done, no matter what meds are given or not given, no matter how many prayers are prayed or not prayed.

It makes sense to pray, as God gave King Hezekiah more years after a heartfelt prayer. But ultimately, it is in God’s hands, not ours. We should never feel that we didn’t pray enough or pray the “right prayers” when a loved one dies. And we should never refuse to pray for a loved one’s health because such prayer brings the one praying closer to God and helps them to submit with grace to God’s ultimate will.

And it makes sense to study and research new and better medical treatments, as God will not allow anything to happen outside of His will, and indeed, our discoveries ARE part of God’s will (or they wouldn’t work). Everything we research and “invent” has already been designed by God; it’s all part of His “master design” for the universe. We aren’t “creating” anything new–it’s all been conceived and designed by God “in the beginning.”

Great post Cat!!! I will have to re-read Job now.

 

[Della]

The sentence that stood out for me: “My view is instead: take it as it comes, and show some independence. The purpose of life cannot be to produce an attractive corpse.”

It’s fine to take reasonable care of oneself, but we have to admit that some people simply take it too far. Anything can become an obsession and we simply don’t like losing control over our bodies. At 66 I am discovering new wrinkles almost daily. My first reaction was to wonder what product would erase them and make me look 40 again. Then I realized that I’ve EARNED my wrinkles. They are badges of honor that tell the world that I’ve gained much in my life from laughing and crying, and that thhe wisdom I’ve gained is worthy of respect. Why should I try to look like a younger version of myself? What? Do I think by doing that I’ll never die? I think the author is saying that the modern hubris is to think we can hold back the inevitable and have complete control over everything as if God has no say in our lives. At least, that’s what I got from his comments.

 

[TarkanAttila]

The sentence that stood out for me: “My view is instead: take it as it comes, and show some independence. The purpose of life cannot be to produce an attractive corpse.”

It’s fine to take reasonable care of oneself, but we have to admit that some people simply take it too far. Anything can become an obsession and we simply don’t like losing control over our bodies. At 66 I am discovering new wrinkles almost daily. My first reaction was to wonder what product would erase them and make me look 40 again. Then I realized that I’ve EARNED my wrinkles. They are badges of honor that tell the world that I’ve gained much in my life from laughing and crying, and that thhe wisdom I’ve gained is worthy of respect. Why should I try to look like a younger version of myself? What? Do I think by doing that I’ll never die? I think the author is saying that the modern hubris is to think we can hold back the inevitable and have complete control over everything as if God has no say in our lives. At least, that’s what I got from his comments.

I can’t wait for the day I get my first wrinkles. I think part of the reason I grow out a beard is to look older. There has always been something attractive about getting older. (I already have a bad back - from being overweight - so I’m halfway there already!)

But then again, I am a man. I can understand, given our cultural pressures, why a woman might not want to seem older…

 

[WilliamOK]

The sentence that stood out for me: “My view is instead: take it as it comes, and show some independence. The purpose of life cannot be to produce an attractive corpse.”

It’s fine to take reasonable care of oneself, but we have to admit that some people simply take it too far. Anything can become an obsession and we simply don’t like losing control over our bodies. At 66 I am discovering new wrinkles almost daily. My first reaction was to wonder what product would erase them and make me look 40 again. Then I realized that I’ve EARNED my wrinkles. They are badges of honor that tell the world that I’ve gained much in my life from laughing and crying, and that thhe wisdom I’ve gained is worthy of respect. Why should I try to look like a younger version of myself? What? Do I think by doing that I’ll never die? I think the author is saying that the modern hubris is to think we can hold back the inevitable and have complete control over everything as if God has no say in our lives. At least, that’s what I got from his comments.

I’m sure this is exactly what the blog poster meant. And it was quite funny I think as well!

 

[WilliamOK]

You know I had not thought much about it before, but I feel my absolute best after eating a double cheeseburger and sipping on a milk shake while lying down watching TV. I feel my worst after nothing but fruit and veggies and exercising.

Love it - Me too!

 

[WilliamOK]

I thank God for the medical interventions that allowed me to survive my gestation; I probably would have been miscarried or stillborn even 60 years ago. Supreme devotion to health, as to anything except God, is idolatry; nevertheless, I see no reason to disparage health, or any of the other things God permits us to enjoy sometimes.

Yes, as you say, his point was not to go overboard, and not to take things too seriously.