Article March 26, 1990 Issue

What about AIDS?

The Christian Science Monitor

Few social issues have received the attention that acquired immune deficiency syndrome has over the last few years. This is one issue that touches something either controversial or personal, moral or political, in almost everyone's point of view.

If this terrible thing were limited to a small group of people, then it might be an unsurprising response for everyone not directly affected by it to look the other way. This is one human response that has a long history and that goes back to Biblical times. At least that's one way to look at Christ Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan. You probably know how it goes.

A man falls among thieves, is assaulted and left half dead. A priest comes along the same road, sees the man, but passes by on the other side of the road. The next traveler is a Levite, who does the same. Finally a Samaritan comes along and has compassion on the injured man. He binds up the man's wounds, brings him to an inn, and takes care of him. The parable is recorded in the tenth chapter of Luke's Gospel.

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