Religion and disease: the historical experience of Cuba and Puerto Rico

Abstract (English)

Many diseases, as a manifestation of something physical and biological, are often so closely connected with the cultural that it seems almost impossible to separate them. Religion plays a special role in this interweaving as an essential element in the formation of culture and identity. There are many examples in history where diseases have been interpreted from religious perspectives, the most famous of which are the epidemics of plague, leprosy and AIDS.
History shows that epidemics are often perceived as divine punishment – punishment for sins sent by divine power. Or, on the contrary, as a test that befell the righteous. Today, in a society dominated by scientific knowledge, humanity has a fairly good understanding of how diseases are transmitted. But this was not always the case, and before a number of discoveries in the 19th century in the field of bacteriology, many diseases were considered to originate, for example, from inmoral behaviour.
The 19th century can fairly be considered the century of cholera epidemics. Many researchers emphasize that cholera is comparable to medieval plague epidemics in its impact on various aspects of society. This paper provides an analysis of the second wave of cholera epidemics in the Caribbean region, which occurred in the 1850s. Repeating the scenario of the 1830s, the epidemic broke out in Cuba, but then spread to other islands, leading to catastrophic consequences on some of them. One of these islands was Puerto Rico, where the epidemic started in the fall of 1855. The purpose of this report is to analyze historical experience and explore the boundaries between scientific and religious in the 19th century.
The cholera epidemics in Cuba and Puerto Rico also had a religious dimension. Firstly, some contemporaries believed that cholera could be caused by a special, immoral lifestyle. The moral aspect, closely related to religious beliefs about norms and anomalies, was given special attention in the prevention and treatment of cholera. Secondly, the epidemics have provoked an upsurge in public donations to help those in need. Since donation practices are closely linked to religious beliefs about benefactors, this deserves special attention. Finally, the epidemic has had an impact on various religious practices.