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| comment | | "parent_author":"",<br>"parent_permlink":"photography",<br>"author":"mathuselah",<br>"permlink":"strolling-around-lisbon-3-science-vs-religion-in-a-statue",<br>"title":"Strolling around Lisbon #3 - Science Vs Religion in a statue",<br>"body":"Today's walk took me to Campo dos M\u00e1rtires da P\u00e1tria - a large avenue with its own garden in the middle.\n\nAt the end of it,<br> there is one Lisbon Medical Universities.\n\nJust in front of it there is a statue - An academic that is portrayed in full university gown.\n\n![IMG_20180503_130027.jpg (https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmZceTE9D4nNgrC9b7qkGaThqG6XcqWKeWw9PqiG2fxXae\/IMG_20180503_130027.jpg)\n\nThis academic is Jos\u00e9 Tom\u00e1s de Sousa Martins - or Dr Sousa Martins as it is known among its followers. \n\nHe was a doctor renowned for working pro bono for the poor in Lisbon,<br> Portugal. He was a big name in the fight against Tuberculosis in the 19th century. After his death,<br> a secular cult was put in place,<br> in which he is thanked for \"miraculous\" cures he provides. This devotion was \n\nOver the years piles of plaques of the people that were saved through prayers to the good doctor are piled at the statue's feet. There are also small shops nearby that still sell candles that you can leave with your request for aid from the Dr. \n\n![IMG_20180503_130041.jpg (https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmXckxMysdM26884jcWAjGFAwVaWXc6JfkBDS1JRHqrNPr\/IMG_20180503_130041.jpg)\n\nI remember being a kid and having my elderly aunts saying they would go and put a candle on the statue,<br> and request aid with some medical condition. When I was 4-years old,<br> I had an accident and I am sure someone came here to leave a candle in my name as well. \n\nOn the other hand,<br> I remember an instance where a family member was saved by surgery and when the doctor came to tell us of the positive outcome,<br> all his glory was stollen by an aunt that said quickly \"That was all the work of Dr Sousa Martins\" - so I can understand how it is somewhat of an issue for healthcare workers. \n\nThis cult was never fully sanctioned by any religion - particularly has the Doctor is known to have commited suicide - usually a taboo in most religions. Nevertheless its followers defend he was a spiritualist - although there is no information that corroborates this.\n\nYou can still see this cult is popular,<br> particularly among the elderly - and it is one of the quirky traditions that it saddens me that eventually will disappear. \nEven though if allowed to come back - I am sure the good Doctor wouldn't be amused.",<br>"json_metadata":" \"tags\":[\"photography\",<br>\"photo\",<br>\"travel\",<br>\"lisbon\",<br>\"cityscape\" ,<br>\"image\":[\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmZceTE9D4nNgrC9b7qkGaThqG6XcqWKeWw9PqiG2fxXae\/IMG_20180503_130027.jpg\",<br>\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmXckxMysdM26884jcWAjGFAwVaWXc6JfkBDS1JRHqrNPr\/IMG_20180503_130041.jpg\" ,<br>\"app\":\"steemit\/0.1\",<br>\"format\":\"markdown\" " |
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