Wednesday 11/9, 4:30 PM – 5:50 pm, Swift 208

Ekaterina Lomperis, “Costs of our Healing:  On Martin Luther, Facebook, and the Problem of Global Health”

The paper examines little-studied theological teachings about medicine by the founder of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther, based on close readings of his writings, especially his lectures on Genesis and Deuteronomy. I argue that, for Luther, human pursuits of healing were spiritual and morally charged enterprises. I further show that his writings on medicine were informed by his concerns about the limits of healing and ethical dangers inherent in the pursuits of health.  Renewed attention to such concerns can shed a new light on present public conversations regarding medicine: from Facebook’s new biomedical research initiative to global health inequalities.

This session will be co-sponsored by the Theology and Religious Ethics Workshop and the Global Christianities Workshop. Light refreshments will be served. Attendees are encouraged to email elomperis@uchicago.edu for a copy of her paper to read in advance of the workshop.