Issue 517 The Church and studying diseases January 30, 2015

OK, I am here to advocate that the Church actively study diseases and report on them to the community at large.  Let's discuss my reasoning.

Reason 1:  First and foremost, having an additional body that studies diseases and shares information ensures that there is more diversity in the search for a cure.  In this, I mean that scientific institutions may focus on one or a dozen ways to find a cure for a specific disease.  As such, there could be numerous other methods and varieties of cures/treatments left untested due to lack of resources, funding or manpower.  So by turning over the more basic research, or even an entire avenue of research to another body ensures that another potential cure can be found, allows for a variety of research opportunities and also allows more information to be shared which could lead to other cures and treatments.

Reason 2:  The church also has a large sum of money to call upon to research a disease, or even act as a conduit to share information.  With the churches resources, even a village in Africa or other part of the globe with no access to the World Wide Web can provide information on a disease. 

Reason 3:  The church may be less political than some other government and private institutions funding and doing research.  Reason being is that the church does not seek to make a profit.  They seek to enlighten and empower individuals through the word of God.  So it is not a stretch to say they could add the fight against diseases to their resume for their own purposes of spreading the word of God and solving global issues for the sake of gathering new parishioners. 

Reason 4:  This also expands the capabilities of the Priesthood.  Now, not only will Priests bring forth the word of God, but they can advise their parishioners on how to stay healthy during flu season, or even how to avoid getting sick from all sorts of diseases.  This will bring new respect to the Priesthood, and allow it to be a viable career choice if applied correctly (basically more people may actually become priests as a result of the "selfless" nature of the research being done through the church).

Conclusion:  I do not know for sure if the church already cooperates on the search for cures, but they more than likely already cooperate in the prevention of diseases.  So my suggestions expand upon the status quo to transform the church into an organization bent on not just saving peoples souls but their health and general wellbeing as well.