How to Answer a Patient Who Asks: "Does God Exist?"

Nurses Spirituality

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Many patients asked me if God exists.  I said, yes, but I failed to prove it to them? Can anyone help me?

Specializes in Medical-Surgical Nurse, Community Health Nurse.

Hi cynical-RN, BSN,

Personally if a patient would ask me a kind of philosophical question about God and not religion, I would generously and happily share with him/her of what I honestly know about God.  

I agree with you, sometimes a patient wants to engage only 1:1 with a nurse.  If I am a patient and I ask a question to the nurse who is assigned to me; I would very very happy if she/he could answer me without involving anyone else; because this just only about God and not about my belief system. 

Usually a patient will not just jump into such a question without establishing trust relationship with the nurse. However, I have zero knowledge about philosophy and about God, I would honestly tell the patient that, I don't know the answer.

From my experiences with patients from cross-cultural backgrounds; once a patient feel comfortable with the nurse; that will be the time to ask any question without any intention to challenge the nurse, but just to have something to say, or even to develop a kind of friendship.  This is just my opinion.  Maybe someone may have a different opinion of which I would be happy to explore.

 

 

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical Nurse, Community Health Nurse.

Hi GrumpyRN, NP!

I am not using philosophical knowledge or moral arguments to prove that God exists.  I am not proving God’s existence through all the wonderful things I see around me such as trees, birds, babbling brooks, towering mountains, the rivers, the sun, the moon and the starts, 18 physical laws that work in harmony for our planet to sustain complex life including the  laws of gravity, thermodynamics, and electromagnetic forces. I am not saying that God exists because of what I have learned about His miracles such as making Hebrews cross the red sea from Egypt, and destroying Pharaoh’s army in the same sea.

I can prove to you that God exists through my direct and personal experience with Him. My life is a living testimony.  From my childhood, I was taught to believe in God and pray when to Him when I am in troubles, and give Him glory and thanks when everything is going well with me.

One day, I helped two people to cross the lake using an old wooden boat without engine (motor).  These two people had a very urgent and important appointment, and we could not find anyone to help them cross the lake.  On the shore, there was an old wooden boat with one paddle.  We immediately entered the boat sailed to the other side of the lake, where they were going.  The old wooden boat had holes on each side.  As I was paddling the boat, the water was entering the boat from those holes and one of the two people would help me remove it using a specific bowl.  We reached to the other side without any problem.  The sky was blue, the lake was very calm, and it was a very beautiful day.  On my way back home, I was alone in the boat, and I could paddle and remove the water coming from each side of the boat easily. It was just like an adventure for me. When I reached in the middle of the lake, that adventure turned into something different!  Suddenly, the sky turned dark, the rain and the wind started to come; as well as a strong storm and the tempest.  Very strong waves came and terribly hit the boat, and water from those waves and the rain was pouring in the boat, adding itself to the water from the holes.  I want to repeat this “This time, water was not only coming from the holes, but from the very strong waves that were throwing water directly into the boat, then water from the rain”.  Well, only few minutes I could see the boat being filled with water, and I was very hopeless. I then prayed to God: “God, I heard that you performed miracles and saved people in the past; but this time, with my situation, you cannot help me.  Please, as I die, forgive me from all my sins”. As I finished praying, one very strong wave come hit the boat, which was already full with water, and the boat turned outside down.  At that time, I indeed saw the end of my life coming. I tried to swim but, the tempest, and the waves were so strong….As I was drowning, descending in the deepest level of the lake; a miracle happened to me, and I did not die, I was saved.  There was no way out for me at all, I know that was the end of my life.  I know it was God, who saved me.  Even to be alive today, I know very well, it is through the power of God.  My whole life lies in His hands.

That was not the end.  Many times in my life, I found myself in some situations, where there was absolutely no way out; but through prayers, God found a way out for me!   Every now and then, when I am in trouble, I pray to God. “God, please save me”….and in a miraculous way, I find myself saved.  In another extreme case, there was time, I saw a life-threatening event coming to me, and cried to God for help. At that time, almost all my classmates, friends, and neighbors died; and I was saved. Day by day, in my professional or personal life, I pray to God and find peace and comfort in Him.

To make a long story short; my life is a living testimony that God exists. In my daily life, I see and feel the presence of God around me. Troubles at work, obnoxious patients, difficult administrators or colleagues…, I always pray to God for help, and find peace in Him.  My life is a living testimony that 100% God exists and loves me.  Does God exist?  Yes, He does. If you ask spotangel and fivestar719 in this forum, they will also testify that God exists.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
4 minutes ago, S.I.C. said:

To make a long story short; my life is a living testimony that God exists. In my daily life, I see and feel the presence of God around me. Troubles at work, obnoxious patients, difficult administrators or colleagues…, I always pray to God for help, and find peace in Him.  My life is a living testimony that 100% God exists and loves me.  Does God exist?  Yes, He does. If you ask spotangel and fivestar719 in this forum, they will also testify that God exists.

Thank you for sharing your experiences; they show that god exists to you and give you the proof that you need that god exists in your life, and I support that. Of course, that is not necessarily proof for anyone/everyone else that a god exists. As long as there is mutual respect from all perspectives, that is what matters.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical Nurse, Community Health Nurse.

Hi JadedCPN,BSN. RN,

I strongly agree with you.  Mutual respect from perspectives is great.  Thank you.  Advanced Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2021.

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Not denigrating anyone beliefs, but in the panorama of Gods, let's say Christianity? 

Obscure religion until 4th century AD? Constantine under siege 'legalizes it' against the grain, of an empire of pagan worshippers from Gods of Hellenic times and a combination of the conquered of Egypt etc etc. 

No afterlife in Paganism except for the rulers like the Pharaohs or Emperors etc. Christianity promises an afterlife, equality as per Jesus, forgiveness and charity etc etc. Slaves which made up about 70%? of the Roman population laps this up because it offers so much more than they ever could possibly imagine and now the spectacles like the Colleseums offered is diminished because life is more respected and cherished. Christians are now the majority, but now they have self worth and have become rebellious etc etc. Constantine being a good politician sees which way the tide is moving. Christianity is legalized and moves throughout the Roman empire and a world religion is born. 

Modern equivalent might be 'Trending'? 

Could this be how religions are created? Anglicanism.... Henry VIII?... Marriage reasons? Etc etc? 

Just speculating? 

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
16 hours ago, S.I.C. said:

Hi GrumpyRN, NP!

I am not using philosophical knowledge or moral arguments to prove that God exists.  I am not proving God’s existence through all the wonderful things I see around me such as trees, birds, babbling brooks, towering mountains, the rivers, the sun, the moon and the starts, 18 physical laws that work in harmony for our planet to sustain complex life including the  laws of gravity, thermodynamics, and electromagnetic forces. I am not saying that God exists because of what I have learned about His miracles such as making Hebrews cross the red sea from Egypt, and destroying Pharaoh’s army in the same sea.

I can prove to you that God exists through my direct and personal experience with Him. My life is a living testimony.  From my childhood, I was taught to believe in God and pray when to Him when I am in troubles, and give Him glory and thanks when everything is going well with me.

One day, I helped two people to cross the lake using an old wooden boat without engine (motor).  These two people had a very urgent and important appointment, and we could not find anyone to help them cross the lake.  On the shore, there was an old wooden boat with one paddle.  We immediately entered the boat sailed to the other side of the lake, where they were going.  The old wooden boat had holes on each side.  As I was paddling the boat, the water was entering the boat from those holes and one of the two people would help me remove it using a specific bowl.  We reached to the other side without any problem.  The sky was blue, the lake was very calm, and it was a very beautiful day.  On my way back home, I was alone in the boat, and I could paddle and remove the water coming from each side of the boat easily. It was just like an adventure for me. When I reached in the middle of the lake, that adventure turned into something different!  Suddenly, the sky turned dark, the rain and the wind started to come; as well as a strong storm and the tempest.  Very strong waves came and terribly hit the boat, and water from those waves and the rain was pouring in the boat, adding itself to the water from the holes.  I want to repeat this “This time, water was not only coming from the holes, but from the very strong waves that were throwing water directly into the boat, then water from the rain”.  Well, only few minutes I could see the boat being filled with water, and I was very hopeless. I then prayed to God: “God, I heard that you performed miracles and saved people in the past; but this time, with my situation, you cannot help me.  Please, as I die, forgive me from all my sins”. As I finished praying, one very strong wave come hit the boat, which was already full with water, and the boat turned outside down.  At that time, I indeed saw the end of my life coming. I tried to swim but, the tempest, and the waves were so strong….As I was drowning, descending in the deepest level of the lake; a miracle happened to me, and I did not die, I was saved.  There was no way out for me at all, I know that was the end of my life.  I know it was God, who saved me.  Even to be alive today, I know very well, it is through the power of God.  My whole life lies in His hands.

That was not the end.  Many times in my life, I found myself in some situations, where there was absolutely no way out; but through prayers, God found a way out for me!   Every now and then, when I am in trouble, I pray to God. “God, please save me”….and in a miraculous way, I find myself saved.  In another extreme case, there was time, I saw a life-threatening event coming to me, and cried to God for help. At that time, almost all my classmates, friends, and neighbors died; and I was saved. Day by day, in my professional or personal life, I pray to God and find peace and comfort in Him.

To make a long story short; my life is a living testimony that God exists. In my daily life, I see and feel the presence of God around me. Troubles at work, obnoxious patients, difficult administrators or colleagues…, I always pray to God for help, and find peace in Him.  My life is a living testimony that 100% God exists and loves me.  Does God exist?  Yes, He does. If you ask spotangel and fivestar719 in this forum, they will also testify that God exists.

Normally I try to keep these things impersonal and generalise them, however you have addressed me directly so...

This is just a few stories with no context. You were drowning and suddenly you weren't? So what happened? did you suddenly remember you could swim? Or did someone come and save you? Did you realise you were in the shallow part of this lake? If god had intended to save you why would he go to the trouble of trying to drown you first? Seems a tad cruel. Perhaps god is a sadist who likes to watch humans suffer for his amusement. We all know that he watched his "only begotten son" suffer and die on a cross for reasons. Why were you in a boat with holes in it anyway? That kind of thing can win you a Darwin Award. (The Darwin Awards salute the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who accidentally remove themselves from it in a spectacular manner!)  https://darwinawards.com/

 

"I saw a life-threatening event coming to me, and cried to God for help. At that time, almost all my classmates, friends, and neighbors died; and I was saved."

You seem to be a bit of a disaster magnet. Again no context. What of your friends? Why were they not saved? Surely at least one of them must have been a believer. Also again, why put you through a trauma if he intends to save you?

 

"Troubles at work, obnoxious patients, difficult administrators or colleagues…, I always pray to God for help, and find peace in Him." 

So you are putting this level of annoyance at the same level as events that kill your classmates, friends and neighbours? Seriously???? How big is your ego?

 

You have stated a few random stories with nothing to back them up and expect that to be enough. Sorry, but no. I have stated earlier that I absolutely defend your right to believe whatever you want and to worship it in any way you want but do not expect me to go along with you.

When people talk about the glory of god, "They always mean beautiful things like hummingbirds. I always reply by saying that I think of a little child in east Africa with a worm burrowing through his eyeball. The worm cannot live in any other way, except by burrowing through eyeballs. I find that hard to reconcile with the notion of a divine and benevolent creator." (Sir David Attenborough).

Stay well, stay safe and have a good christmas and a happy new year.

 

Moderators please feel free to remove this post or edit it if you feel it breaches the TOS, I am not trying to be abusive or argumentative but I was addressed directly with a long rambling post.

 

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
4 hours ago, Curious1997 said:

Not denigrating anyone beliefs, but in the panorama of Gods, let's say Christianity? 

Obscure religion until 4th century AD? Constantine under siege 'legalizes it' against the grain, of an empire of pagan worshippers from Gods of Hellenic times and a combination of the conquered of Egypt etc etc. 

No afterlife in Paganism except for the rulers like the Pharaohs or Emperors etc. Christianity promises an afterlife, equality as per Jesus, forgiveness and charity etc etc. Slaves which made up about 70%? of the Roman population laps this up because it offers so much more than they ever could possibly imagine and now the spectacles like the Colleseums offered is diminished because life is more respected and cherished. Christians are now the majority, but now they have self worth and have become rebellious etc etc. Constantine being a good politician sees which way the tide is moving. Christianity is legalized and moves throughout the Roman empire and a world religion is born. 

Modern equivalent might be 'Trending'? 

Could this be how religions are created? Anglicanism.... Henry VIII?... Marriage reasons? Etc etc? 

Just speculating? 

Christianity thrived because it was an improved form of Judaism. It offered life after death BUT only if you have been good. So who decides if you have been good? Why the clergy and the landowners and lords and masters of course. Keep those peasants down and working hard, they will get their reward in heaven, because they are sure not going to get it here.

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24 minutes ago, GrumpyRN said:

Christianity thrived because it was an improved form of Judaism. It offered life after death BUT only if you have been good. So who decides if you have been good? Why the clergy and the landowners and lords and masters of course. Keep those peasants down and working hard, they will get their reward in heaven, because they are sure not going to get it here.

This is my own theory but I find it too coincidental that the Roman empire began its demise almost immediately Christianity came to the fore. 

Christianity offered hope! Hope creates ambition which exponentially increased the questions surrounding authority. Islam surfaces around the same time and they flourished because of their doctrines. Roman empire disintegrates and Europe languishes until the 11th century or so. Vikings and other cultists people divided and forged their own ways during these times. The catholic church organized slowly, city states emerged except where the Muslims existed and created great cities, universities and places of trade(Spain) etc. Religion... Crusades... Using the Muslim world organization and systems Europe emerged with the city states and warring factions between themselves and the powerful and catholic community and popes etc. 

Christianity like fiefdoms etc was the cement used to take and keep power through politics and marriages etc. And, just as today's influencers exist, I believe Christianity had its own influencers. Medicis, Borgias etc. Pomp, grandeur, celebrations... Entertainment all melded with laws, edicts and tyranny until Martin Luther and similar people began to question the Catholic Church. 

Today in this country we have Republicanism which very many like the religious faithful previously, only headlines suffice to influence their thinking. 

Just my opinion and I could be wrong as I have been many times before. But I doubt I am about this. Christianity is a servant of influencers. Why would anyone give their last hard earned dollars to someone who's obviously living in luxury and sin because they say, 'it's a seed that will give back prosperity and blessings'? And, the same exists with Islam 'virgins', Judaism 'keeping their women ignorant and barefoot' Catholics 'women subjugation' even Buddhism is now corrupted! 

And I am generalizing of course, but just instigating some thinking points. I apologize to those I may have offended but being a nurse, analysis is ingrained in my thinking now. 

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Specializes in ED, Tele, MedSurg, ADN, Outpatient, LTC, Peds.

@Curious1997 valid questions to ask about religion. I don't claim to have answers for all of them---! Some of my observations.

No religion is Bad. People in them make choices-good or bad/ right or wrong.

Example-kill people, go to heaven, get  72 virgins!

Example- ask for money from someone who cannot afford to give enough tithes but yet have personal jets in your name.

 Religious figures that came to this world gave us examples of peaceful, loving relationships and also instructions on all kinds of modern issues-!

MAN made decisions to interpret their instructions rightly/wrongly with consequences.

 In a book I read about NDE's , an American Indian that has an experience of going to heaven and seeing Jesus asks him all these questions and the answers are fascinating.

I can truly say  that this book changed my life and perspective. You may want to check it out.

 Pain and sorrow are part and parcel of life. What is different is how we perceive it, deal with it and have the strength to withstand the constant battering. I get my strength from Christ by simply asking! No jumping through hoops as with humans! I look at life as a college to learn spiritual lessons of patience, understanding, forgiveness and selflessness. Once I learn the lesson, the next lesson starts and this is constant till I die. If I don't learn the lesson, the issue keeps coming up, no matter how many jobs or partners I change! When I get rid of self and learn to be selfless, the joy and peace is so satisfying! 

 I just know that having personally experienced, the miracles in my life, I feel very loved even though I know I am not worthy and am totally imperfect! He loves me, warts and all and nothing can separate me from his love! He's always been constant, patiently awaiting my return!  I am the one that keeps moving far and near, blowing hot and cold!

This is what I share when asked and I encourage my patients to find their source of unending love!

 Reference

Embraced by the Light- By Betty J Eadie https://www.amazon.com/Embraced-Light-Profound-Near-Death-Experience/dp/0553382152/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&hvadid=78408977097852&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=embraced+by+the+light+book&qid=1608838104&sr=8-1&tag=mh0b-20

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1 minute ago, spotangel said:

@Curious1997 valid questions to ask about religion. I don't claim to have answers for all of them---! Some of my observations.

No religion is Bad. People in them make choices-good or bad/ right or wrong.

Example-kill people, go to heaven, get  72 virgins!

Example- ask for money from someone who cannot afford to give enough tithes but yet have personal jets in your name.

 Religious figures that came to this world gave us examples of peaceful, loving relationships and also instructions on all kinds of modern issues-!

MAN made decisions to interpret their instructions rightly/wrongly with consequences.

 In a book I read about NDE's , an American Indian that has an experience of going to heaven and seeing Jesus asks him all these questions and the answers are fascinating.

I can truly say  that this book changed my life and perspective. You may want to check it out.

 Pain and sorrow are part and parcel of life. What is different is how we perceive it, deal with it and have the strength to withstand the constant battering. I get my strength from Christ by simply asking! No jumping through hoops as with humans! I look at life as a college to learn spiritual lessons of patience, understanding, forgiveness and selflessness. Once I learn the lesson, the next lesson starts and this is constant till I die. If I don't learn the lesson, the issue keeps coming up, no matter how many jobs or partners I change! When I get rid of self and learn to be selfless, the joy and peace is so satisfying! 

 I just know that having personally experienced, the miracles in my life, I feel very loved even though I know I am not worthy and am totally imperfect! He loves me, warts and all and nothing can separate me from his love! He's always been constant, patiently awaiting my return!  I am the one that keeps moving far and near, blowing hot and cold!

This is what I share when asked and I encourage my patients to find their source of unending love!

 Reference

Embraced by the Light- By Betty J Eadie https://www.amazon.com/Embraced-Light-Profound-Near-Death-Experience/dp/0553382152/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&hvadid=78408977097852&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=embraced+by+the+light+book&qid=1608838104&sr=8-1&tag=mh0b-20

I don't believe any religion is bad and I wished I had the capacity to participate. Analyzing everything can be a nuisance. 

I do believe that religion is co-opted by bad people who then exploit their followers. I have never heard of religion expounding anything bad, ever. Just men extracting phrases and spinning it to suit their interests. 

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By the way spotangel good for you and don't let anyone persuade you different. 

Merry Christmas to you and your family and Happy holidays as well. 

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