Dr Fritz Flashcards
Spiritism
spirits exist separately from human bodies, that humans are incarnate spirits, and that spirits undergo repeated reincarnation into the physical world in a progression toward intellectual and moral perfection.
Began in mid-19th century France.
Mixture of the Christian moral code, with reincarnation and belief in contact with the spirits of the dead. Imported to Brazil at the turn of the century.
Founder of Spiritism
Alan Kardec
was interested in spiritualism but made it into his own
Was told by spirits to spread the message
Tried to create a science of the metaphysical
Mediums
Used to contact spirits
Most mediums didn’t have good education so it seemed more real
Different handwritings for different spirits
Ideas from spiritism
- Idea was to lose our need for material gain
- Reincarnation is never a punishment, it’s supposed to be a learning experience
- Reincarnated into every kind of life so you can spiritually evolve
- There are different worlds
- Psychography - writing without being conscious of it (spirit writes it)
why spiritism became popular in Brazil.
Religious Syncretism, Religious and Medical Pluralism
Religious syncretism
the blending of different religious traditions
What religious syncretism into Brazilian culture
African traditions (half of the slaves went to brazil) - spirit possession and communication.
African medicine - superior to european medicine so everyone used it
* The plant life in Brazil was similar to Africa
* Whenever it was used they would do chanting using Christian names but to African gods
Praying through saints, Religious pilgrimages
* Mixing of both African and European traditions
Spiritism was originally popular with white educated people but became very popular with everyone because it preached about charity and democracy
Religious & Medical pluralism
people will turn prayer to help with medical or spiritual things
Dr. Fritz
Spirit of German Doctor who died in 1917
Did bad things during world war 1 so he wanted to fix that when he died
* Wanted to work in Brazil because people he hurt got reincarnated in Brazil
Marício Malgalhães
Spirit Medium.
Spiritual surgeries in Brazil
Surgeries are done without antiseptics or anesthetics
- antiseptics or anesthetics were believed to be administered by spirits.
- Performed on a spiritual plane * Done mostly with just needles
- The medium is possessed and works alongside registered nurses
- Bad sanitation
Rates of Success
47% - success
23% - helped a lot
31% - no pain
Pain= 34 references
25 - no pain
7 - a little pain
2 - a lot of pain
Emotions
- roughly half said were calm, relaxed, fine confident
- other half were nervous, tense, frightened anxious.
- Emotions had no effect on treatment outcome.
Positive responses
80-95% positive responses.
Why was DR Fritz especially impressive?
Especially impressive because the majority of patients were treated by medical doctors for the same illnesses before and were unsatisfied with the results.
differences in the results
between different types of illnesses.
Better with highly symptomatic illnesses or long-term management of chronic pain
Asymptomatic, life-long, blood conditions etc weren’t help that much
* EX: Diabetes, blindness, paralysis
Why Successful? Routine
Extensive ritual preparation - patients are given a set of instructions
* (last meeting before dr, read the second gospel according to spiritism, pray and guard your thoughts, avoid physical exertion, take a possies (used to remove bad energy to allow energy to flow).
Day of: maintain positive conversation and relations, don’t smoke or drink, don’t eat bad foods, bring water to be blessed to take home, take a bath in rock salt or white rose petals, bring white or red rose
Days after: be careful, thank god, a lot of stuff
What made the surgeries more belivable?
Spiritual rituals
* Singing Christian hymns during surgery
* All wearing white
* Residential nurse
* Native american traditions mixed with modern treatments
Patient must believe in the spiritual system
* Common mythic world
* Believe that the healer can help
* Believe that the treatment can be interpreted into spiritual world
Placebo effect
power of the mind to affect changes of the body
55% of pain reduced when taking drugs is caused by placebo
A lot of medical issues can be solved through placebo
* Can affect wbc counts
* Ulcers, pains, cardiac pains
Art therapy with the children with cancer
western psychotherapy
Rather than the spirit world it’s done in the patient’s mind
Patient believes because: draws out patient’s mind through words, trust licensed therapist, suggest ritualistic routine changes
