Atheists? How do you deal with religious people?

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I'm an atheist. I am uncomfortable around religious situations. I haven't started nursing school yet (14 weeks to go). I'm concerned with being confronted with people that would ask me to "Pray for them" and stuff. I don't know if this is a common occurrence among patients, etc. Aside from not wanting to be included in religious sentiments, I also am very uncomfortable with lying. I think I would find moral difficulty with saying "Okay" to someone that would ask me to pray for them.

I'd prefer to hear from atheists how they deal with situations like that. I'd rather not get into a religion discussion, if it can be avoided.

I was trying to search for old threads, but the links from the search engine are not going to the correct pages.

Wow, I just came in here and this topic became interesting. Prayer is a touchy subject for many. I can't believe how that poor Romans was ganged up on by who knows how many people. And someone had the gall to say Romans has a persecution complex??? did they seriously misquote everything he said? I remember a TV show called "politically incorrect" The host "Bill Maher" would love to have one Christian on the show and then about 4 or 5 "anti-Christians" He and the others would love to bash every little word the Christian said. It reminds me of what happened in here. The sad thing is that the Christian has a moral code to live by, but those without God do not. So mercy and kindness are given by the Christian but there are no rules to play by for the others. Its sad when we as nurses stoop so low as to cut each other down, no matter what we believe. This post has left me with the impression that atheists (at least some here) would do the same to a Christian patient in their care (only because of personal beliefs against them) Its a sad state of affairs that this can be called nursing.

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Specializes in Hospice.
Wow, I just came in here and this topic became interesting. Prayer is a touchy subject for many. I can't believe how that poor Romans was ganged up on by who knows how many people. And someone had the gall to say Romans has a persecution complex??? did they seriously misquote everything he said? I remember a TV show called "politically incorrect" The host "Bill Maher" would love to have one Christian on the show and then about 4 or 5 "anti-Christians" He and the others would love to bash every little word the Christian said. It reminds me of what happened in here. The sad thing is that the Christian has a moral code to live by, but those without God do not. So mercy and kindness are given by the Christian but there are no rules to play by for the others. Its sad when we as nurses stoop so low as to cut each other down, no matter what we believe. This post has left me with the impression that atheists (at least some here) would do the same to a Christian patient in their care (only because of personal beliefs against them) Its a sad state of affairs that this can be called nursing.

Read the thread again ... I think you missed a few things.

Meanwhile, once again back to the original question ... Loner, did you find anything here that helps with your original problem? A place to start, at least?

It's actually a fascinating discussion when we can avoid going off into tangents about who hates whom, who's right and who's wrong.

Where exactly DO we draw the line between personal beliefs and our work?

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The sad thing is that the Christian has a moral code to live by, but those without God do not. So mercy and kindness are given by the Christian but there are no rules to play by for the others.

I hope you don't feel that way about your atheist patients! Or your Muslim patients, or your Jewish patients... What about the suicide bombers who are living by their moral code? The Catholic inquisition, etc. etc. There's something that scares me about anybody who elevates what they believe to be God's will above basic humanity, compassion, and kindness. You don't have to subscribe to a particular religion to have a moral code or to be a good person with a strong character and a kind heart -- or to be a good nurse!

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The sad thing is that the Christian has a moral code to live by, but those without God do not. So mercy and kindness are given by the Christian but there are no rules to play by for the others.

!!!!! This kind of judgement is a huge part of the problem I have with religious encounters. Not all are like this, but this belief, this judgement of "those without God" just...well I equate it to the way nails on a chalkboard make me feel.

I am really amazed that you would believe that the only "moral code" that exists, is one handed down by your Christian God.

I do not need God to make me a good person. I do not need fear of retribution or hell or eternal damnation (or prison for that matter) to make me a good person. I am what I am, because its what I believe is right. I'd love to add a few more to the Ten Commandments actually, but thats another discussion. ;)

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heron, I didn't miss a thing. Sandiego, I didn't say that Christians are the only good people-dont misquote me. Scorpio, ok atheists have a moral code and everybody has a moral code....great!......my point is that the moral code displayed by those that picked all over Romans was a code that was without mercy, so call it what you will....its not the same moral code as what that poor guy was using. He couldnt stop saying he was sorry and the more he did, the more he was kicked when he was down... hey everybody can make mistakes, but when they apologize and wave that white flag of surrender, why not try to cut a person some slack??? shouldn't nurses of all people have some compassion? even if a person sticks there foot in their mouth, if they admit there mistake, give them a break!

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heron, I didn't miss a thing. Sandiego, I didn't say that Christians are the only good people-dont misquote me. Scorpio, ok atheists have a moral code and everybody has a moral code....great!......my point is that the moral code displayed by those that picked all over Romans was a code that was without mercy, so call it what you will....its not the same moral code as what that poor guy was using. He couldnt stop saying he was sorry and the more he did, the more he was kicked when he was down... hey everybody can make mistakes, but when they apologize and wave that white flag of surrender, why not try to cut a person some slack??? shouldn't nurses of all people have some compassion? even if a person sticks there foot in their mouth, if they admit there mistake, give them a break!

I didn't misquote you, I quoted you. :wink2: And Romans didn't admit any mistakes; as I recall he said he had apologized without meaning it. Peace!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.
Read the thread again ... I think you missed a few things.

Meanwhile, once again back to the original question ... Loner, did you find anything here that helps with your original problem? A place to start, at least?

It's actually a fascinating discussion when we can avoid going off into tangents about who hates whom, who's right and who's wrong.

Where exactly DO we draw the line between personal beliefs and our work?

Yeah, there have been a lot of good suggestions. I sometimes think I'm overly paranoid. I guess I should be pretty happy. There was only one religious post, and only a few dozen off-topic ones. Wow.. the weeks slide by during the holidays! I have only 12 weeks till I start nursing school!

:)

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Specializes in Informatics.
as a patient I WOULD NOT want a person that doesnt even believe praying for me.so please dont do this,I find it WAY more offensive than you going to find me a preacher.

Offensive for me to want to comfort you in your time of need? I'm very sorry you feel that way. So that means you, as (apparently) a religious person of a particular belief system, would not pray with someone who subscribes to another belief system? If you were, say, a Baptist, and a Jewish person wanted you to pray with them, would you tell them "I don't believe as you do ... let me go find a rabbi instead."?

That sounds rather selfish. You may be going into the wrong profession. :cry:

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Things got a little strange tonight, but I think some good came out of it. I had to go back to about page 10 and reread to see where things became unhinged. I still don't understand the reaction, but I guess I don't have to. Intolerance just drives me nuts, especially when someone does it with a smile and a pat on the back.

So the lesson I learned tonight was "Just don't get into it." It's not worth it.

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Specializes in Informatics.
The sad thing is that the Christian has a moral code to live by, but those without God do not. So mercy and kindness are given by the Christian but there are no rules to play by for the others. Its sad when we as nurses stoop so low as to cut each other down, no matter what we believe. This post has left me with the impression that atheists (at least some here) would do the same to a Christian patient in their care (only because of personal beliefs against them) Its a sad state of affairs that this can be called nursing.

How dare you assume a sense of moral superiority because you happen to believe in the Christian God. You should be ashamed of yourself. For you to actually think a person with an atheistic belief is without morals sickens me and only furthers the divide between believers and non-believers.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

Anyone ever have the desire to run through a thread and delete all the off-topic posts? =P

Currently, I'm feelin' in.

:D

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This has been happening all night, Bob. You'll be accused of attacking people for disagreeing. It's futile, I'm afraid.

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