NY Times writer Ross Douthat makes the point that Christian missionaries fighting ebola in Africa are carrying on a tradition that goes back two millennia.
Back in the Roman Empire during the first few centuries after Christ, the Christ-following Galileans were known for their humanitarian aid to the sick and the poor.
Fourth century emperor Julian complained that “all men see that our people lack aid” from pagan sources, even as “the impious Galilaeans support not only their own poor but ours as well.”
Douthat finds that complaining tone in a Slate writer who disapproves of missionaries courageously fighting disease today in western Africa. The writer seems to think that "the separation of medicine and religion should be absolute, proselytization is wicked/backward/ignorant, helping people is what governments and secular groups are supposed to do."
The secular mind may disapprove Christians who don't do enough good and Christians who do too much good.
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