Jesuit Relations Proposal Paper Essay

The views taken by the Jesuits and Hurons towards medicine and disease varied during the spread of old world disease among the native population of North America. These two groups had very different ways of dealing with the diseases and there use of medicine. Throughout the reading of chapter 3 in the Jesuit Relations book, we see certain ways that these two groups collided heads because they did not seem to agree with each other’s methods. They (Jesuits and Hurons) both wanted to do help their town population and the only ways they knew what to do is what their culture and people had already done years before. Some of the methods of these groups worked while others not so much. First point of view to be touched on is the Jesuits and what their role was during the old-world diseases. The Jesuits really focused on the question of why rather than how disease spread (The Jesuit Relations, page. 71). They questioned it, meaning disease, and believed that it was God’s plan to get certain people sick to â€Å"punish the wicked, test the resolution of the virtuous, or simply gather souls to heaven† (The Jesuit Relations, page 71). They thought God was testing them and was punishing certain groups or people. The Jesuits were already immune to some of the diseases that is why there population did not get hit as hard by some of the old-world diseases then others. Their main idea was that they (Jesuits) are that they were not doctors. All they wanted to do is to save the souls of the sick, and as well as that they baptized the dead. The Jesuits did not believe in reviving and curing the dead. This was all apart of Gods way and the sick would be baptized and join his or her family and friends in heaven. That was their idea and these people understood this and believed that it was the right thing to do; it was the way of God. Another idea they believed in was that if a person is ill, that he or she should isolate themselves from the rest of the population. They could not help or do anything so it was better for them to be on their own until they were cured of their illness. This idea was very popular back home but when they ventured to the new world and saw what other people were doing, it really did not stick with them well. While they believed in their own ideas, they also would see what the Hurons did for their medicine and curing abilities. The Jesuits were surprised that the Hurons were so in touch with mother earth and not God. This really set the Jesuits and they did not like the new ideas. They could not believe that the Hurons did not believe in going to heaven. From the excerpt, The Help We Have Given to the Sick of Our Village, from the Jesuit Relation book â€Å"For my part, I have no desire to go to heaven; I know no one there†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (The Jesuit Relations, Page 81) this shows the Huron’s point of view for heaven. The Jesuits could not understand this unspiritual answer; they questioned the native and all they had to say. As the Jesuits have their ways of dealing with the disease, the Hurons had their own ways of dealing with the diseases as well. The Hurons were people of the land and had their own ways of dealing with the old-world diseases. As I mentioned earlier, the Hurons did not believe in going to heaven and baptizing the dead like the Jesuits felt. Hurons believed in natural medicines and curing people through sports as well as through spiritual healings. They felt as though they knew mother earth and knew that there were natural cures for certain sicknesses. Many Huron procedures involved the sickened personal mind and body. At first I was shocked that they played sports back in this time but as you think about it, it was a great idea on their behalf. â€Å"Little demon as large as a fist† (The Jesuit Relations, Huron Medical Practice, Page 72) this what the Hurons believe causes the pain in a sick person. They thought that some of these demons would come into your body when you are sleeping at night to enter your body through your dreams. To get these demons out and to be cured, the sick person would either play some sports or go through spiritual healings. They believed that these sports like Lacrosse, Dish and Straw (The Jesuit Relations, Page 73), were good for the body and they could run it off to keep the body healthy. The demons would exit their body through these sports and thus curing the sick person. Hurons would have big games and tournaments when they thought there was a bad epidemic as well as when there were multiple people ill. These people that were sick were advised to show up to the games so they could finally be healed. If the person who is sick cannot make it to the game then they have to be patient and wait while his people play for his wellbeing. It brought everyone together and these people, that were ill, brought all their lucky stuff and believed that it would help them overcome their illness too. The whole community was supportive. The Jesuits were shocked at this way of treatment because they did not think that would help the people and it was a waste of time, but to the Hurons it was their way of life. Not only did they think sports would help but also through spiritual healing and natural medicines like certain herbs. The sickened would go to these shamans, a spiritual / medical specialist, who would tell them what their best option would be. Sometimes it would be sports; other times they would give the sickened certain herbs that will cure their disease. It was a long process but it worked for the Hurons. The Hurons also sometimes blamed the Jesuits for some of the diseases that entered their land and believed that Jesuits were hostile sorcerers. As we can see, these two groups did truly have different views and roles on the diseases and medicines of this time. Each group’s views were shocking to each other because they could not agree with which methods worked better and what was more reliable. In the eyes of the Jesuits, they believe that it is the way of God. Sickened people need to isolate themselves and try to cure themselves, but if they do perish then their soul shall go to heaven. The way of the Jesuits is just God is on your side and it is ok to die because you will go to heaven. On the other hand you have the Hurons who are people of mother earth and sports. They believe that the sickened need to play sports to be cured and to have shamans perform mind and body work on the individual to be cured. The way of the Hurons is more natural and makes you fight for your life. The ideas are very different but those are the roles that these the Jesuit and Huron groups played during this time, which signifies and shapes each group into who they are.