EVANGELISM IN WARD

Nurses Spirituality

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This is a very important area in the christaindom..

We should try to spread the gospel in our various ward as nurses

I think before we make any rash judgments about the OP, one very clear question needs to be asked and answered:

"Are you still in Nigeria, right now?"

If the answer to the above question is "yes", then the answer needs to be MARKEDLY different, and the response to the OP's statement markedly different.

If the answer is "no"....followed with "I'm in the US", then I'd be responding much the way the very first responder (RoseQueen?) did.

Where one is standing in the world makes a helluva lotta difference when taking a stand.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I think before we make any rash judgments about the OP, one very clear question needs to be asked and answered:

"Are you still in Nigeria, right now?"

If the answer to the above question is "yes", then the answer needs to be MARKEDLY different, and the response to the OP's statement markedly different.

If the answer is "no"....followed with "I'm in the US", then I'd be responding much the way the very first responder (RoseQueen?) did.

Where one is standing in the world makes a helluva lotta difference when taking a stand.

I believe that patients, being in a vulnerable position, should never be on the receiving end of a care provider's proselytizing. Whether that is here in the US or in a foreign country is immaterial. Nurses everywhere have an ethical duty to respect their patients and the patients' vulnerability.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

My previous post still stands, but if the OP is genuine and is in Nigeria then I - an absolute and complete atheist - am in some awe due to his (possible) bravery.

Nigeria's forgotten massacre: 2,000 slaughtered by Boko Haram, but the West is failing to help - Africa - World - The Independent

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Unfortunately it's not one of a few places. I'm not aware of persecution by Christians in any comparable sense

This is hardly surprising if your main source of information about the world is the highly biased towards Christians and self censored American media.

I also don't buy into the often heard argument from Christians that and one who firmly believes themselves to be a Christian, but who does something bad isn't a Christian after all.

If this is true then why isn't the same things true for Muslims?

There are LOTS of examples of Christians persecuting others. The LRA (Profile: The Lord's Resistance Army - Africa - Al Jazeera English) is about as bad as they come, have a penchant for hacking people to death with machetes, stealing children, rape and even worse, and fully consider themselves Christians.

There is the horrifying Christian based persecution of homosexuals in Uganda (Africa's horrifying persecution of gays - NY Daily News)

Embarrassing to me since it's largely driven my American religious nut jobs (God Loves Uganda | Independent Lens | Wisconsin Public Television)

There is the largely forgotten ethnic cleansing, genocide, and mass rape camps operated by Serbian Christian Militias. (Rape during the Bosnian War - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) I personally observed both the horrifying aftermath of their actions, and interacted (usually firefights) with these militias while deployed to Bosnia in the 90's. These guys interrupted their mass rapes of little girls to hold Christian worship services.

This list could go on and on. Lets not forget the invasion and long, deadly occupation of largely Muslim Iraq by largely Christian America that, to much of the rest of the world was seen as an extension or repeat of the Crusades.

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I feel like we've crossed the line with where this topic is going now. This thread wasn't meant to attack any religion.

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Specializes in hospice.
I feel like we've crossed the line with where this topic is going now. This thread wasn't meant to attack any religion.

Oh, I think for some people, it was. That was the only point.

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Oh, I think for some people, it was. That was the only point.

Well I can only speak for myself here, but although I'm not religious, I don't hold those negative views of Christianity. The majority of my family is Christian and they don't behave in a hateful way towards other groups. Yes, some Christians do, but every belief system has its shameful members.

The purpose of this thread was to discuss the appropriateness of religion in the workplace, and not to vilify religion.

That being said, I still don't believe religion has a place in the world of nursing (at least not at the bedside when it wasn't brought up by the patient).

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I believe that patients, being in a vulnerable position, should never be on the receiving end of a care provider's proselytizing. Whether that is here in the US or in a foreign country is immaterial. Nurses everywhere have an ethical duty to respect their patients and the patients' vulnerability.

NO ONE is more sensitive to proselytizing than I, trust me on that! Here in the US, I'm with you 100%. But it IS important to note where the OP currently is, as the culture and expectations are not the same everywhere as they are here. And that includes religious expectations.

I have no idea if in Nigeria this is a widely-accepted practice, or one that is rare.....or if it's something that is encouraged or discouraged. I only meant to point out that it was worth considering (the source and location of same).

Beyond that, all things OTHERWISE being equal, I'd want zero proselytizing anywhere near me and mine while I'm 'captive' in a hospital bed!

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

There are LOTS of examples of Christians persecuting others. ......

That's horrible!! :cry: Christians are not perfect by any means, but to willfully premeditate and repeat actions like that...that's not a heat-of-the-moment mistake. I made the comment that I did, because when we truly know that we are dirty rotten sinners and repent and trust in Jesus' perfect life, substitutionary atonement on the cross, and resurrection...our hearts are changed. We grow to HATE our sins. Proverbs 6:17 lists "hands that shed innocent blood" as one of six things that God considers abominations. And they will have to give an account one day. I'd hate to be them on that day.

That's all I'm going to say on the matter.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Well I can only speak for myself here, but although I'm not religious, I don't hold those negative views of Christianity.

I have red this whole discussion and haven't seen anyone express a negative view of Christianity. What are you talking about?

The purpose of this thread was to discuss the appropriateness of religion in the workplace, and not to vilify religion.

I don't know where you get that from. The OP didn't ask for a discussion about the appropriateness of religion in the work place. The OP was a simple statement advocating for an unethical practice.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Ok lets stick to topic.

The OP is in Nigeria and posted in the SPIRITUALITY forum.

Allnurses serves and international community and we ALL need to remember that when we respond to posts.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Ok lets stick to topic.

The OP is in Nigeria and posted in the SPIRITUALITY forum.

Allnurses serves and international community and we ALL need to remember that when we respond to posts.

I made all my comments with those facts in mind. Proper ethics for nurses are not confined by international borders.

It is unethical for a nurse to proselytize to the sick / injured under his care who are in no position to avoid it and may fear not being cared for if they disagree.

It's exactly as unethical in Nigera as it is in the USA.

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