have been asked to speak about the Christian doctor, specifically, about Christianity and its relationship with medicine.

The realization that death is inevitable undoubtedly initiated early religion. When it became obvious that certain ailments were related to mind and behavior, beliefs developed that sickness was the result of offending the gods.

Worshipping, fearing and offering sacrifices to these deities became an important part of ancient beliefs, and the physician/priest was, therefore, dedicated to placating these gods.

Thus, from the dimmest beginnings, the preservation of health and life, which is the function of medicine, was inextricably linked to man's relationship with a power beyond himself, which is the realm of religion.

In both Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt, the priests were intermediaries between the gods and men, especially in matters of health and disease. Imhotep, most famous of the Egyptian priest physicians, was deified after his death, thereby setting a precedent for the mythical Greek figure, Asclepius.

In Asclepius, religion and medicine were fused into one. As the son of Apollo, he was partly divine, although his skill as a physician apears to have belonged to his human side.

When he became so adept in medicine that he could revive the dead, jealous Zeus—foremost among the gods—slew him. But Apollo eventually persuaded Zeus to immortalize Asclepius and make him the god of medicine.

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