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?

I definitely do not think you will feel like a fish out of water. I am a Christian, and I have not met many other Christians in the workplace. (And I live in the bible belt.) I actually meet more patients that share my beliefs than healthcare workers. However, I truly hope that you will not be judged by your fellow nurses for what you do or do not believe.

When a Christian asks someone about their beliefs in God or offers to talk with someone about their beliefs most people think the person is trying to judge them or at the least trying to change them. However, it is not about that. The bible instructs Christians to minister to all people about Jesus Christ. It does not say, "Thou shalt not tell thy coworkers about Jesus-- only speak of the Lord on your off time." Many Christians are just trying to do what they believe they are supposed to do.

About being atheist...my pastor said something once that made me really think about this..he said: To a person who says they are atheist...do you know everything there is to know about everything? If not ....do you know 1/2 of all there is to know about everything? Probably not ...so just say you did know 1/2 of all there is to know , would you be willing to agree that in the other 1/2 that you dont know, couldn't God possibly exist there? If you agree then you are not an atheist you are an agnostic.

I can not and do not wish to persuade anyone - only God can draw people to Himself. I just wanted to state my opinion here as everyone else has.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

The bible instructs Christians to minister to all people about Jesus Christ. It does not say, "Thou shalt not tell thy coworkers about Jesus-- only speak of the Lord on your off time." Many Christians are just trying to do what they believe they are supposed to do.

We ran into this issue with a very outspoken Christian nurse in our ICU. She was constantly rocking the boat by giving her opinion on patients, their lifestyles, their parenting skills, etc.....even to the point where she would criticize patients for their belief/non-belief if it didn't 100% agree with hers. The frustrating part was that she HONESTLY believed that if she did not witness to these people (patients, family members and coworkers alike) that she was doing them a disservice. Luckily, I have not run into another coworker like her since. Most people I know keep their beliefs private, or if they do talk about their beliefs at work, it is usually in a very harmless or innocent context. I don't think you will have any problems once you get into the workplace. Best of luck to you!!!

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

Jesus talks and fish don't walk. I do not however thing religion would be a problem on the job...I work with fellow Christians as well as Mormons and atheists. And I get along with everyone. The only form of religion in the work place in my area is that two of our three hospitals are Catholic so a woman would have to go to the alternative to get an abortion.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Do I feel like a fish out of water?

Not really. We rarely - if ever - discuss religion. If it does comeup, we each participate as much we desire and leave it at that. It mostly just comes to

"So are you working Christmas?"

"yeah."

"Don't have family to go home to?"

"Not really. I don't celebrate Christmas"

"Oh?"

"I'm an atheist"

"Oh and I'm a Catholic"

"oh good. So about that patient in 915..."

"Yes, go ahead and call Pharmacy"

That's about it :chuckle

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Haven't read through all the threads, but I do find a lot of different beliefs expressed by patients/family/staff. They tend to be religious or spiritual to some degree, but there are a few who don't express anything. Our palliative care unit here is very faith-based but of course we're a Catholic hospital. It wouldn't matter what a family or pt believed or didn't believe, we just feel that spiritual care should be offered if they feel a need and if not, we don't bug them about it. You have to go where they are, IMO. I'm a believer but have no problem w/ those who don't. I respect theirs as long as they respect mine.

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i'm a christian, but not in the conventional sense...at the core i am christian, but i am influenced by aspects of buddhism, judaism, catholicism and being raised as a southern baptist. i love the bible, but don't take it literally. we are all unique and our individuality should be respected. i think our beliefs are very personal and nobody's business. as long as you are a good person and a good nurse that is the most important thing. ;)

P.S. for any of you science lovers out there this is a really great book... The Existence of God by Richard Swinburne...it uses science to prove that there is a God. very cool.

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I'm an agnostic (raised in the UU church, considering going again...) and it's not really a problem. I do get the occasional raised eyebrow and questions about my beliefs, but I answer them the same as I answer any other questions like "what's your favorite colour?". The funniest moment was a Southern coworker who was shocked I wasn't a Christian and said something like "But, you're a moral person!" as though you couldn't be one without the other:). I do occasionally get preached to, but I handle that on a case by case basis. As a general rule, I will give someone two chances to stop politely, then I get less subtle. I have no problem telling them WHY I don't want to be a Christian if they force the issue. Most times, they will leave it alone after that.

I should add, I used to get more annoyed at Christians pushing their beliefs on me but now I just take it differently. I have decided that they are just doing it because they want to share something with me that they think I will like, just like they might recommend a good restaurant.

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"I have decided that they are just doing it because they want to share something with me that they think I will like, just like they might recommend a good restaurant."

I try to keep that attitude, too, but most people don't threaten you with eternal damnation if you don't try their favorite chowhouse... Heh heh

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wv's outspoken nurse and dorimar's icu nurse are both wrong because they are pushing their opionions in an inappropriate settings

i can find something to talk about with anyone i work with that does not cause arguement...in my own family we have different religions and different political views . no one has ever changed the mind of any of the others but we get along and enjoy good bbque or share a rented movie without killing each other

as a christian i do not see the logic but i would hope that they will see something nice in me

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I think the degree of difficulty you may experience with this really depends on where you are in the US. It would be quite interesting for an atheist who is 'out' to live in the South. In the North, no problem.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
I think the degree of difficulty you may experience with this really depends on where you are in the US. It would be quite interesting for an atheist who is 'out' to live in the South. In the North, no problem.
Sorry pal. That's a "myth" :)
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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Fokker,

Sociology studies clearly show much higher rates of Christian fundamentalism in the South. Just a fact.

Love your screen name!

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