Humanistic people who are going to med school, or those interested in doing so. A community resource and discussion board for other geeks pursuing medicine, either in residency programs, medical school, or premedical studies.
<b>The Order of Asclepius</b>
by John Biles

In ancient Greece, there was a cult of priests dedicated to the worship of Aesclepius, god of Healing and Medicine. Among this cult, there were some who awakened to the power of Magick. After paganism was banned in the Roman Empire in the late 4th century AD, they organized themselves and went underground to continue the work of healing. Many joined the monastic movement, hoping to motivate it in the direction of works of public charity and the tending of the sick.

During the middle ages, they worked to create hospitals and homes for those suffering from leprosy. It was at this time that they came in contact with similar groups of mages in Asia and established ties across Eurasia. The order was shocked by the Black Death. They tried to convince the mages of Europe to unite to fight it, but the Order of Hermes and the Celestial Chorus were already increasingly locked in struggle. They did their best to confine its ravages and successfully prevented it from crossing the Sahara to ravage Africa. It was at this time that the definite break occurred between the Hippocratic Circle and the Order of Aesclepius, which had been allied off and on before this and often intertwined in membership and goals. With the rise of the Technocracy, the Order went increasingly underground, but have continued to promote the study and practice of medicine, which they regard as the greatest achievement of the modern world.

The order claims that Florence Nightingale, Albert Schweitzer, and Jonas Salk were among its ranks. The order has increasingly turned in recent years to the healing of psychological illness also. The order often claims that Jung was among their ranks, but no one can say for sure.

<b>Philosophy</b>
This world cries out for healing and we must answer the call. We shall return life to a world slowly dying. Physical, mental, and spiritual illness are linked and must be healed together. To heal without changing a person's life only insures that the illness or injury will recur. To kill is only necessary to save one's life. Never hold where speech is enough. Never hurt where holding is enough. Never injure where hurting is enough. Never maim where injury is enough. Never kill where maiming is enough. All need healing, not hurting. You must offer your aid to whoever needs it most. All life prospers and suffers together. Your strength can be their strength, and their pain is yours. Together we can make this a better place.

http://amsa.tribe.net