Atheist or Agnostic?

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I know, I know, you're never supposed to talk about religion or politics, right....

I'm really not trying to start a religious debate, but just get a sense of where people are at. I'm a first year student and an atheist, yet all my fellow students and the nurses I'm meeting are believers.

If and when I become an atheist nurse, am I going to find myself a fish out of water?

Specializes in Critical Care.
Then again, there's nothing wrong with believing you have the true answer, be it atheism or Christian. The problem is when you express it with confidence, it's attacked by the other.

I think it's a basic tenant of intelligence to ponder your place in the universe.

And there is nothing wrong w/ imagining that your own personal answer is the most profound; it is, for you.

And there is nothing wrong w/ confidence in your answer, except when it borders on condescension to others.

And that is where that post was at: the poster obviously has a latent hostility to Christianity, yet they paradoxically claimed a 'neutral' point of view. I don't object to the VIEWPOINT, but the inaccurate claim of neutrality.

I wouldn't call "Divine Dictator" a 'neutral' point of view. I was just questioning the basic assumptions being made and simultaneously, contradicted.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Leslie, you're a better person than me. I could not be a hospice nurse, because I personally am not very spiritually refined. Maybe one day.

But ultimately,I agree it is the patient, their preference and their desires that matter. My problem would be that in all cases, I am not the one to adapt to their beliefs. There's too many belief systems out there and I'm not comfortable mumbling through a prayer I don't know or believe. (I'm very familiar with that prayer and can pray with the best of Christians, but it's other belief systems I'm talking about).

I can see why if it brings comfort to a patient, one would do that. But I'm not there yet.

thanks tweety.:icon_hug: personally i think you're way too hard on yourself. you could be my hospice nurse anyday. (no, i don't say that to everyone.)

leslie

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originally posted by bzoe

i think being agnostic has helped me be a better nurse because i'm not opinionated. the pt gets what s/he wants from me without hints to go in another direction if s/he has made her mind up because i don't have the baggage of a divine dictator saying life has to be a certain way. a pt can safely bounce ideas off me without me having an agenda if she hasn't made her mind up about something. i don't have some religion telling me that their are easy answers to the obedient so can help people think through options.

i think being an agnostic is having an opinion. it is not neutral. it doesn't, in and of itself, make you a better nurse (than say a christian nurse). that does sound a bit condescending.

how does the patient get what s/he wants from you when are actually going in a direction - the direction of the possibility of no god?

you do have an agenda - you must just be honest about it. everyone comes from someplace . . . there is no dishonor in that. just recognize it.

you characterize christians or religious people as having easy answers and that is very far from my truth. just because i believe in god does not mean i toss out platitudes and give people easy answers to difficult questions. i don't remember ever doing that here on allnurses and don't do it in real life. you should hear the conversations i have with my 16 year old daughter, who is going through a period of doubt.

i struggle. i get angry. i admit to not knowing all the answers.

but i still believe. (and my god is not a "divine dictator". afterall, he gave us free will).

and i'm not a better nurse because of it.

i strive to be a good nurse because i truly believe in being my patient's advocate - whatever that may mean for them spiritually and otherwise. i could do it if i were an atheist or an agnostic or a christian or a buddhist.

this whole thread has been a great education for the op, i think anyway . . . . . .and for the rest of us. we can discuss, have vast differences of opinion and still learn.

cool.

steph

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I think it's a basic tenant of intelligence to ponder your place in the universe.

And there is nothing wrong w/ imagining that your own personal answer is the most profound; it is, for you.

And there is nothing wrong w/ confidence in your answer, except when it borders on condescension to others.

And that is where that post was at: the poster obviously has a latent hostility to Christianity, yet they paradoxically claimed a 'neutral' point of view. I don't object to the VIEWPOINT, but the inaccurate claim of neutrality.

I wouldn't call "Divine Dictator" a 'neutral' point of view. I was just questioning the basic assumptions being made and simultaneously, contradicted.

~faith,

Timothy.

I'm not going to debate another poster with you. I don't think we're allowed to anyway. (edit, o.k. may I did debate another poster. Sorry)./ I didn't see where the poster was claiming neutrality, just not having a single agenda of bringing the person to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The poster was claiming their ability to address spiritual needs is better than Christianity and why. The same as a few Christians have pointed out how their faith has helped them in their practice. I don't see the difference.

There is an undercurrent of hostility, but I don't know the history of this person, they can speak for themselves. I've had more than one hostile encounter with Christians, so if when I post there is an undercurrent of hostility, that's why. Of course countering "you're an abomination" with comments such as "divine dictator" is not my style.

Whenever someone disagrees with Christianity it's difficult to state that without offense and I do see what you're saying.

I might add in my experience I have not found what this poster has experienced. I find Christians very capable of addressing the spiritual needs of a patient, perhaps even better than a "neutral" agnostic.

I strongly believe in your premise that it's o.k. to hold a view as long as it's not condescending to others. I can easily claim some Christians on this board who did just that, but that, but tit for tat isn't necessasry.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

nevermind.

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I believe faith in my creator is an asset to doing my job. I sometimes pray with my patients when the oppurtunity presents itself. I have worked in many places in the medical field since becoming a nurse in 1995. I find this to be helpful in my job and in my life. When you study the intricacies of the human body--how could you not believe in an infinite designer--

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Why on earth are all of you believers participating in a thread specifically calling for agnostics and atheists? And getting offended that people are getting annoyed at your needs to butt in and make your statements of faith?

May the IPU preserve us all.

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why on earth are all of you believers participating in a thread specifically calling for agnostics and atheists? and getting offended that people are getting annoyed at your needs to butt in and make your statements of faith?

may the ipu preserve us all.

original post: "i know, i know, you're never supposed to talk about religion or politics, right....

i'm really not trying to start a religious debate, but just get a sense of where people are at. i'm a first year student and an atheist, yet all my fellow students and the nurses i'm meeting are believers.

if and when i become an atheist nurse, am i going to find myself a fish out of water?"

because, the op asked a question regarding how she would fit in around "believers".

and so i think that opens this conversation up to believers.

as to the way the thread has trended, it is one post following another post answering questions and the ball keeps rolling.

steph

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nevermind.

:flowersfo or :beer:

steph :sofahider

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As a nurse, I feel I am an extension of God's hands. God is love and His love flows thru me to others. I always wanted to be a missionary or a nurse when growing up--As a nurse, I can do both;)

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Quite honestly - I'm mighty pleased that this thread has lasted this long and didn't descend into a mudslinging free for all :)

cheers,

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I can't believe that nurses think that they are a better nurse than the person working along side them because of their personal belief or lack thereof..

expressing your own opinion on this board is one thing but putting down the other nurse as being a less of a nurse than you are is something else

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