Okay, I did a search for GOD and came up with 200 pages of 5492 threads. Perhaps what I am looking for was somewhere in there, but WOW! The closest I have come were these posts which clearly show than an abundance of people DO believe in God:
I am curious about the number of people who do NOT believe in a traditional Higher Power.
What brought me to this was a recent theological discussion with my Jewish girlfriend. We are basically on the same wavelength (so I suppose thats good for us), where she believes in the God who created everything but doesnt care about what happens in the world, only about the outcome, (sort of like a science experiment), and I believe only in the POSSIBILITY of such an entity but not in the context of any organized religion which I have come across thus far. (Satanism is the closest I have found to what I believe, though even that seems to not be all encompassing. I do not prescribe to any religion so please don't get hung up on a particular reference or lack of here and miss the point of my question.)
I DO BELIEVE RELIGION IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN CIVILIZED SOCIETIES!!! I just have no faith in the whole omnipotent, omniscient, loving God thing to whom we should devote our lives, depriving ourselves of certain experiences that seem to be the very nature of our existence, spending time on our knees seeking guidance from and worshiping. I AM NOT CRITICIZING ANYONE FOR PRACTICING RELIGION!!!
My question is this: do you all feel it is necessary for a care provider to believe in and/or have faith in God or does it matter if he/she believes there might not be a second chance in "Heaven" and have only one FINITE life to live so therefore it is mandatory to ensure everyone gets the best possible chance to be happy and make our marks (so to speak) the only time around?
No. You do NOT have to believe in god to be a good nurse. It IS important to be respectful and tolerant of other's beliefs, lifestyles, etc.....but then again, those things are important to be a civilized human being.
I may say I am atheist, but there is one small solace I get out of God. My dad died in 1998, and I believe he is in Heaven, being entertained by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and all the other singers and entertainers he loved, and watching Joe Louis and other boxers. And now being entertained by Johnny Cash (RIP). He's having a great time!
My dad died in 1998 as well, and yesterday I thought, "He finally got to meet Johnny Cash." Johnny Cash was a class act; when he was here in concert in 1996, I wrote him a small note, telling him that my dad was a huge fan and that he would be there (at the concert) if he weren't so ill. I also gave him Daddy's phone number and asked if he had a chance before he left town, would he give my dad a call. Would you believe the following morning, he actually DID!! It was one of the highlights of my dad's life. He said they spoke for about 10 minutes, and he was just as nice and "down to earth" as could be. Afterwards, I sent a thank you card to Johnny Cash, and his secretary even acknowledged it by writing back. Like someone was quoted yesterday saying, "It's a sad day in Nashville, but a great day in heaven."
Sorry, I know this was off the subject of the original thread.
Actually it also seems to be politically correst to bash non-Christians. The "how can you be moral without believing in X" ideas on many boards exemplify that.
From what I see, everyone feels persecuted at one time or another - Gays, Bis, Straights, Men, Women, Transgendered, Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independants, Isolationists, Non-Isolationists, etc. etal.
It all depends on your view.
Agreed.
I guess some people feel so strongly about their beliefs, so sure they are right, that they don't realize that they are actually bashing, but they are.
It's not politically correct to bash ANYONE, plain and simple.
Only time i've ever done that was if people were asked to back off twice and didn't.
Someone's an atheist? Someone's a Christian? Someone's anything else? Fine. I don't push my beliefs upon anyone, i expect the same courtesy. And absolutely NO generalizations or stereotypes, not because it's PC, it's common courtesy, the dying art.
Agreed. Doesn't happen much though.
Sometimes when I'm stating a point of view I realize I may be stepping on toes, others interpret it as bashing, but I gotta say way what go to say.
As I said, I may be bashing and not realize it. Again, I think some are very overly sensitive, for a variety of reasons, and that includes those on both sides of the fence.
Just remember I'm a Liberal Democrat Anti-War Anti-Bush Anti-Abortion Anti-Drug Pro-Universal Health Homosexual Athesist Vegetarian and you must remember in all issues I AM RIGHT AND YOU ARE WRONG IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME. Got it? :)
[bBut I don't think it is appropriate for anyone to "bear witness" in the middle of this type of thread.There are many message boards,chat rooms etc that cater to every interest-find one.... [/b]
I agree. When "Redeemed" quoted the Bible above...FOR GOD SO LOVED.....(in all caps, meaning yelling at us), I thought "now that's not appropriate and totally meaningless to the discussion of this thread"
I also must remember it's commanded of her/him to do that, and try to be tolerant, but persons like that don't make it easy.
Sometimes when I'm stating a point of view I realize I may be stepping on toes, others interpret it as bashing, but I gotta say way what go to say.
As I said, I may be bashing and not realize it. Again, I think some are very overly sensitive, for a variety of reasons, and that includes those on both sides of the fence.
Just remember I'm a Liberal Democrat Anti-War Anti-Bush Anti-Abortion Anti-Drug Pro-Universal Health Homosexual Athesist Vegetarian and you must remember in all issues I AM RIGHT AND YOU ARE WRONG IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME. Got it? :)
You must have a dinner plate for a nametag then :chuckle
I've found this a very interesting site/topic. Currently I am studying the philosophy of religion...it's tough going at times, but makes you think.
Myself I am Lutheran. I have cared for pts and their families who are vastly different from my own belief. I haven't had a problem with doing this, and find it interesting.
It seems to me so many have traditions that are just like my own...yet they refer to a higher power in a much differnt sence. As a nurse I believe my purpose is to comfort them set my feelings or ethics aside...hope I've not said that wrong. But even if my beliefs are very different, I've never really found myself in termoil over it.
If any of you are familuar with the Buddhist traditions: would enlightenment be considered an inner knowing? And then Nurvana the reaching of that goal? And would this be the Buddhist form of what a Christain would call heaven??? Is this goal ever really achieved??? How would one know???
I have many friends who are Japanese and they are Buddhist, Shinto and Christain all at the same time. For me this in somewhat confusing, yet very interesting.
Now just remember this is about 4 am if I'm not making any sence that is why.
I may say I am atheist, but there is one small solace I get out of God. My dad died in 1998, and I believe he is in Heaven, being entertained by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and all the other singers and entertainers he loved, and watching Joe Louis and other boxers. And now being entertained by Johnny Cash (RIP). He's having a great time!
My dad died in 1998 as well, and yesterday I thought, "He finally got to meet Johnny Cash." Johnny Cash was a class act; when he was here in concert in 1996, I wrote him a small note, telling him that my dad was a huge fan and that he would be there (at the concert) if he weren't so ill. I also gave him Daddy's phone number and asked if he had a chance before he left town, would he give my dad a call. Would you believe the following morning, he actually DID!! It was one of the highlights of my dad's life. He said they spoke for about 10 minutes, and he was just as nice and "down to earth" as could be. Afterwards, I sent a thank you card to Johnny Cash, and his secretary even acknowledged it by writing back. Like someone was quoted yesterday saying, "It's a sad day in Nashville, but a great day in heaven."
Sorry, I know this was off the subject of the original thread.
WOW! I think Johnny Cash was great too. I would have loved to have seen him in concert. The BBC showed a tribute last night and showed some footage from about 2 years ago. He was still brilliant and hadn't lost the voice. Have you heard his last song recorded late last year? It's one of the best songs he's ever recorded and is about all the friends and loves he's had that have died, very sad but wonderful.
Just remember I'm a Liberal Democrat Anti-War Anti-Bush Anti-Abortion Anti-Drug Pro-Universal Health Homosexual Athesist Vegetarian and you must remember in all issues I AM RIGHT AND YOU ARE WRONG IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME. Got it? :)
Just a question -- how can you be a liberal and be anti-choice? Or was that a typo?
gwenith, BSN, RN
3,755 Posts
It is actually quite simple to create water from hydrogen and oxygen BUT - getting your hands on some free hydrogen - now that is the expensive bit.