Nursing, is it god's work?

[jlsand]

The original poster is someone who doesfeel that it was a calling. I am asking that those who do NOT share the original posters sentiments please walk away from this thread and NOT use it as a forum to debate the issue.

This is not a new topic for debate, please, if you want to debate it start a new thread (or better yet, revive an old thread).

Ok here is a new thread.. read this..http://www.atheists.org/

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by Jay-Jay

Wish there were more posters here who would self-censor like that , Geek. :)

I like the old saying: "Lord, help me to keep my words sweet and kind, because someday I just may have to eat them!"

Whitecaps, I agree with what you say about the marvels of the human body, however if I were a nonbeliever, I would find the statement: "For those who find God to be an offensive word, I would just suggest : truth hurts." offensive. It smacks of "you're wrong, and I'm right, SO THERE!", which is NEVER the way to win people to your point of view.

hehee. it took me a couple of years posting at other boards to get the hang of what is appropriate and what isn't. i also mod at another board and i know what a pain it is trying to decide what to shut down and when, so i certainly don't want to give you guys a headache. i love a vigorous debate, but it easily can turn into a bloodbath. it's a hard line to follow.

and you are right about the never winning me over with taunting. thats when my heels dig into the dirt and i start playing tug-of-war. ridiculous, but true. i think most humans react the same.

[donmurray]

Jay-Jay, Why do you introduce evolution to the debate? My comment neither mentions nor requires it. I was highlighting the more obvious philosphical flaws in the statement quoted. Darwinism doesn't deny the mystery of life, it equates it with the mystery of being, of existence. The mere fact that something is mysterious doesn't mean that God must have done it!

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by donmurray

Jay-Jay, Why do you introduce evolution to the debate? My comment neither mentions nor requires it. I was highlighting the more obvious philosphical flaws in the statement quoted. Darwinism doesn't deny the mystery of life, it equates it with the mystery of being, of existence. The mere fact that something is mysterious doesn't mean that God must have done it!

i dont believe nor do i disbelieve in anything. IMHO, i am not smart enough to figure it out and ive had no visitations from beings to tell me that there is one way of thinking so i choose to be open.

having said that, i dont think that evolution necessarily discounts God. we may not have worked out all the logistics of how evolution has been working, but the evidence is insumountable that some form of evolution takes place. i know that the bible says seven days and made in god's image, but i would think that if these people who were writing down the world of God, channeling God, so to speak, would be writing things down in such a way that people could learn from it as simply as possible. many tales are told in metaphor. why can't seven days be a way of encompassing the past present and future. and a way of saying that people should work diligently but rest as well?

it's all speculation on my part. and IMHO, on anyone;'s part, but who am i to argue with faith? it's an amazing thing.

speaking of which, have any of you ever seen The Apostle or The Rapture? powerful movies there!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by caroladybelle

While this thread really needs to get back to the topic, a small aside.

A few weeks ago, a member that has had issues with me, was having a mild flame war with several of us as targets. Said individual, knowing that I was Jewish, brought US support of the State of Israel into another thread (a comparison that was neither called for nor appropriate as an analogy). I had a suspicion that I was being baited and drawn into a fight.

You know what. I stepped back and didn't bite.

It would have been very easy to have argued the issue. But I am annoyed that anyone would so equate Judaism = Israel, and that someone was trying just to bait me for whatever purpose. And I also admit that I had baited them a bit earlier, in said thread, and that was wrong.

Sometimes, we all just have to step back and not let posters with "personal" agendas get to us, and there are times when that it REALLY difficult for this hard headed gal. Because when we let them get to us and we sink to their level, we are letting them win.

And now back to topic at hand......well maybe.

Kudos!

I missed a good flame war??? Shoot. Nothing better than a good flame war.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by WhiteCaps

As I understand it, the original question was whether or not nursing is "God's work". The idea of "calling" is secondary.

For those who find God to be an offensive word, I would just suggest : truth hurts.

One does not have to be religious to be kind or compassionate.

True.

But, I don't understand how a person can look at the marvelous complexities of the human body without acknowledging the design of creation. Where there is design, there is a designer.

I don't have enough faith to NOT believe!

It would have been gentler if you would have said "the truth as I see it".

One of the most irritating things about the Bible is that it commands Christians to bring others into the light. (I know that's offensive to those who believe the Bible to be the Holy word of God but that's how I feel.) I try to understand that as I gently shut the door in their phase as they interrupt my home with their knocking on the door. I also try to understand that as I deal with then on bb's. Because Christians do take a beating on BB's.

I also choose my "battles" wisely. Would never discuss with the "The Bible said it, I believe it, end of discussion" type of people.

But I wish it said to bring them to the light by quiet example. Sigh....

[Jay-Jay, RN]

Dommurray, please reread Whitecap's post, the one you commented on:

But, I don't understand how a person can look at the marvelous complexities of the human body without acknowledging the design of creation. Where there is design, there is a designer.

THAT'S how evolution/creation entered into the debate. You took exception to the above statement, and I felt the need to express my opinion on the subject.

However, on rereading your post, I realize I took things off on a tangent. You were objecting to Whitecaps [seemingly] seeing man as the 'pinnacle' of God's achievement, and not specifically to the idea that man was created. Sorry...interesting how we can take things out of context without being aware of it!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

That is what I find so fascinating about this BB and human interaction in general. How people can read something or look at something and see completely different things.

I didn't get the impression that Whitecap thought man was the pinnacle of God's creation . . . .just created.

I guess Microbiology cinched the argument for me . . . . the smaller you get the more complex you are. DNA . . . amazingly complex. For me it seems impossible that DNA just happened.

I had some great conversations with my micro teacher . . .

steph

[Jay-Jay, RN]

I'll bet, Stevie! One thing that fascinates me is that the 'older' languages such as Latin and Greek are more complex than 'newer' ones such as English. Now, if man did evolve from apes, and originally communicated mainly by grunting, hooting, etc., wouldn't the OPPOSITE be true?

Oops...wrong thread for this particular bit of info! For those of you who are interested, Furball has started a thread on Evolution in the Break Room. I'll copy my post to that thread.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Jay-Jay perhaps it is evolution to not make things so complicated and simplify things? There does seem to be periods of advancement and then going backwards in some societies. oops wrong thread. :)

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by stevielynn

I guess Microbiology cinched the argument for me . . . . the smaller you get the more complex you are. DNA . . . amazingly complex. For me it seems impossible that DNA just happened.

I had some great conversations with my micro teacher . . .

steph

Steph, funny that the opposite happened to me. It was my study of chemistry, physical and anatomy that did it for me. Reducing us to atoms and electrons and chemical reactions that can be logically explained. When one reduces reproduction down to the elements "the miracle of birth" doesn't seem such a miracle at all, but a series of chemical reactions, logically explained.

But there are enough inconsistencies and "coincidences" and unexplained phenomena to keep me wondering...hmmmmm....

[Agnus]

Bottom line if we disagree and there is anything remotely religious mentioned then the rule is keep mouth shut.

It is interesting because I was not, "offended" as some suggested. Perhaps there was some projection going on. Second, I was not arguring with anyone's religion.

I am writing this as I was the first to speak up and voice an opinion that differed from the original poster. My point was obviously missed entirely as this is evidently too emoationally sensitive to discuss in a dispasionate manor. Too bad the forest can't be seen for the trees.

Yes it was a lovely sentiment posted by Nevada Nurse. I 'll try to remeber to not make the mistake again of voicing disagreement with sentiment.

[Agnus]

Originally posted by WhiteCaps

As I understand it, the original question was whether or not nursing is "God's work". The idea of "calling" is secondary.

For those who find God to be an offensive word, I would just suggest : truth hurts.

One does not have to be religious to be kind or compassionate.

True.

But, I don't understand how a person can look at the marvelous complexities of the human body without acknowledging the design of creation. Where there is design, there is a designer.

I don't have enough faith to NOT believe!

Please, read my original post. All honest lines of work are equally worth of being called, "God's work." Nursing does not hold some special level of virture over other work that makes it appropriate to be singled out for the title of "God's Work" No where did I express being offeneded by the word, "God."