What is thanatology?
Thanatology is the study of death, dying, and the means by which human beings cope with death. The word itself is derived from the Greek word thanatos, meaning “death.” Today, thanatology mostly involves a forensic approach to death mechanisms as well as psychological aspects of the grieving process. While the study of death might seem…
What is a eunuch in the Bible?
The eunuchs of the Bible were usually castrated males or those incapable of reproduction due to a birth defect. A eunuch could also be someone who performed work typical of eunuchs, although he remained perfectly capable of having sex—i.e., “eunuch” in some cases was simply a title. The purpose of intentional castration was to induce…
What does the Bible say about AIDS / HIV?
Fundamentally, all disease is a result of sin. Adam and Eve did not know corruption of any kind before the fall. When God pronounced judgment on Adam, death entered the world (Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12). All sickness, from the common cold to cancer, is part of the curse, and we who live in a cursed…
What does the Bible say about pain?
The word “pain” or some form of it appears over 70 times in Scripture. The word’s first usage explains the origin of pain in childbirth: “To the woman He said, ‘I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he…
Is sleep paralysis the result of spiritual attack?
Sleep paralysis can be a very scary thing. In it, you know you’re asleep, you try to wake up, but you can’t. It’s often accompanied by an irrational feeling of utter terror, and sometimes images of figures in black cloaks. Many cultures have developed supernatural explanations for sleep paralysis. In China, it’s called mèng yǎn,…
What does the Bible say about pandemic diseases?
Various outbreaks of pandemic diseases, such as the coronavirus, have prompted many to ask why God allows—or even causes—pandemic diseases and whether such illnesses are a sign of the end times. The Bible, particularly the Old Testament, describes numerous occasions when God brought plagues and diseases on His people and on His enemies “to make…
What does the Bible say about brain trauma/damage/traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
The Bible does not specifically address traumatic brain injury (TBI), and it doesn’t provide any clear examples of someone with brain damage (although Abimelech’s fatal injury in Judges 9:53 must have involved brain trauma). But Scripture does address the issue of suffering. From our perspective, it seems puzzling that God would allow any bad to…
How should Christians respond to someone with Asperger’s?
There is no “official” Christian stand on Asperger’s Syndrome. The biblical directive is, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (James 2:8). This command has no exceptions; the Christian is to act in love toward someone with Asperger’s in the same way that he acts in love toward everyone else. There are several biblical principles that could…
How can a Christian cope while suffering with a degenerative disease?
Note: this article was written by a person who has a close family member with a degenerative disease. Often when life seems to be going smoothly, we’ll say, “God is good.” Yet we aren’t always so quick to remember this truth when a degenerative disease becomes part of our reality. One key in coping with…
What does the Bible say about a person who is in a coma?
When a person is “in a coma,” the brain of that person is in a state of deep unconsciousness for a prolonged or indefinite period. The Bible says nothing specific about a person who is in a coma, because the medical intervention required to sustain life in a coma was not yet available when the…