I am curious to know if you would be offended, if at church on Sunday your Pastor got up and said a prayer for Church Mice?
I mean he prayed that the mice be strengthened and given the ability to carry out their mousey duties and to eventually render the Church unusable, so that the Parisheners would finally have to pony up the dough to pay for a new Church.
ok I am kidding here is the original post but hey if you are just now reading this thread there have been many twists and turns and I no longer say a prayer over the deceased and yes largely due to many of the points made in this thread. Also NO i would not be offended if anyone of any belief Satanist, TO Catholic said prayers or whipered chants or whatever in my ear that said it was and is an interesting thread but please read about 5-10 of the current posts prior to posting
Now The
ORIGNAL POST
I am curious to know if you would be offended, after death if someone were to say a prayer over you.
I would really like to hear from as many Agnostic or Atheist as possible.
I recently began saying a prayer over anyone that dies in my presence. Many times I do not know if the person had a religious preference or not. I am curious to know if people would be offended if they knew someone was going to pray over them when they die.
here is the prayer
Dear Lord not our will but yours. Into thine hands we commend the spirit of this peaceful child of God. Prepare a place for him/her Now in Your Heavenly Kingdom![/Quote]
I would not be offended at all, whether a Christian, Jew, Wiccan - whomever wanted to say a prayer or good thought for me and those I've left behind. I can see how some would not want such a thing, so maybe it's best to do it quietly or "in your mind", as I often pray (though I'm not a church-goer, I do have beliefs and believe in prayer).
I'm attending a Catholic college and by chance am doing clinicals at a Catholic hospital. Often our clinical instructor will have a prayer at the end of pre-conference (at first I wondered if it was a "God, please help the patients I'm about to unleash these new students on!" LOL) and those of us that want to stay, can. If we don't, that's fine also. Most of the instructors at the school are Roman Catholic, and I've found it very comforting to find prayer a good part of my life again.
As part of my learning, I must ask each of my patients if they are spiritual or have any religious preference. Many, even in a Catholic hospital, say no, but do tell me I can say a prayer for them, or even just think good thoughts. I do as they ask.
I'd not be offended at all. I'm neither atheist nor agnostic, I'm Christian -Southern Baptist. I prayed over my patients too. Silently and or aloud. It is MY prayer to MY Lord asking for admission. No problem for me.
And Wendy if you come back to haunt me, I'd be happy to see you again.
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
[quote name=alphafe
I believe that is is inappropriate for anyone in the medical field to project *any* form of religious behavior, belief or attitude in front of patients who have not requested this. [/quote] I agree-we have to try to deliver non-judgemental and prejudice free care to our patients....I think the OP is way OUT OF LINE....If you want to minister then do it-but not at work.......If you must bow your head and give a silent prayer then I think that IS approriate...anything more in my opinion is NOT-unless you are ordained....as for being offended after I'm dead---um--how will I show that? :uhoh21: Edited to reflect the fact that the OP clarified in a later post that she/he makes this prayer silently without a big TO-DO....so sorry-------IMHO-that's certainly ok.....goodnight now.....
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
That is a total load of crap! The Constitution speaks to freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM it.
QUOTE] Aren't I free to choose No religion? I thought the constitution is meant to protect that right...I better check it out again....If what you are saying is true then the constitution only protects the right of people like you-people that hold the same beliefs as you...I really don't think that is the true meaning of the document....
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
I agree with Trauma-tized and say I don't really mind if anyone prayed for me, I am pretty much not caring about anything at that point! LOL! But if it helps others to do such...go for it!
I personally do not pray or go to funerals for any of my patients. I am close to my patients, and feel loss if they die or feel sad if they are ill of course, but they are my patients...not my friends or family. I reserve praying or attending funerals for friends and family. Keeps my professional life and my private life separate, and I try to do that whenever I can!
That is a total load of crap! The Constitution speaks to freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM it.
QUOTE] Aren't I free to choose No religion? I thought the constitution is meant to protect that right...I better check it out again....If what you are saying is true then the constitution only protects the right of people like you-people that hold the same beliefs as you...I really don't think that is the true meaning of the document....
You know I had to think of what that poster was trying to say.
To me freedom of religion emcompasses freedom "from" religion as well. Of course there's free speech. I'm with you, I think it's my constitutional right to be free from other people's religions.
Now for me, I wouldn't be offended in any way. I'm dead. It's for you.
BUT here's a story for you...something to think about....
Cared for an Indian woman who died of liver failure. Lots of family there. Gave family some time with her...they did alot of praying and rituals according to their culture. We asked them to step out so we could get her cleaned up, tubes out etc. All left but eldest son insisted on staying. Fine. Sat in a chair. A nurse was helping me, when another nurse walks in. This nurse always would go into patients rooms who had died and say a prayer over them. Most of us found it a little annoying and a bit weird, but hey....if that's your thing....Anyway, the son became so upset and out of control yelling at her about the praying I thought he'd smack her. She apologized profusely.....he was still angry but settled down...however he went and got family again and they prayed all over. I don't really understand what happened and why he was insulted...I don't know the culture much, or if it was cultural at all....but that nurse really curbed the bedside prayers after that experience. For what it's worth......
As was pointed out, we are nurses, not ordained ministers. She over stepped her nursing duties by praying over her. Her peers should have reported her to management and put a stop to it and saved her this humiliation. IMO. Silent prayer to your own God is one thing, taking it upon yourself to "pray over someone" (with a public audience mind you, there's something in the Bible about that but I digress) is inappropriate and was obviously not what the family wanted.
Being an election day, I took the time to count the votes... however, I didn't get any exit polls... hee, hee
Not offended= 24
offended = 5
I would take the time to figure percentages, but that would require to much work.
There of course were a few posts stating "hey, I'm dead... what the hell do I care if you pray for me."
And a few post stating, "you pray for me and I'll come back and haunt your a#@ for eternity."
Also other interesting commentary on religion in general....
So, what does this all mean? I guess you better pray that you don't pray for the wrong person...
Thank you for the Lighter side! I guess I was just curious about the whole deal I have one daughter who would not only be offended but if possible would return and burn the offender at the stake and then for good measure hang the corpse, so I will always be aware that any prayer I say will be silent and will mean much to me and take it on faith that when the dead if they are able to understand will appreciate it in the spirit in which it is offered...who knows maybe I will die a horrible death at the hands of a pissed off spirit not a bad way to go all in all!
That is a total load of crap! The Constitution speaks to freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM it.
It totally amazes me that someone would be offended at someone else making a silent, totally selfless display of compassion at this moment.
Take away the government-sponsored hospitals (federal, state, county, or city) and the for-profit hospitals, and what do you have left? Hospitals founded and/or run by various religions. There is no Atheist University Hospital - there is no Agnostic Medical Center.
Your comment about the Constitution is precisely my point. We all have the freedom to practice any religion or none. This is why I believe it's important to make no assumptions about the religious lives of our patients. I do believe that religion has no place in schools, public places or hospitals, unless reqested by the patient -- and then it should be deeply respected.
I couldn't be offended by this nurses prayer if dead :chuckle , but if I were alive and in serious condition, yes, I would be offended if a hospital staffer prayed overtly with me. Silent prayer is always welcome! Don't we all need all the help we can get? And don't many of us who are caregivers benefit from calling on a higher power during a crisis? Prosletyzing in any form is offensive to me in any environment.
I can't speak to religious hospitals v. others, but my checking into St. Mary's doesn't make me a Catholic, Beth Israel doesn't assume I'm Jewish. My point is that everyone's religion is their own business, as our Constitution guarantees
That is a total load of crap! The Constitution speaks to freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM it.
Freedom of religion, if it is going to apply to everyone, also requires freedom from religion. We do not truly have the freedom to practice our religious beliefs, including non-belief, if we are also required to adhere to any of the religious beliefs or rules of others. Freedom from religion is the freedom from the rules and dogmas of other people's religious beliefs so that we can be free to follow the demands of our own conscience, whether they take a religious form or not.
"At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life."
To me freedom of religion emcompasses freedom "from" religion as well. Of course there's free speech. I'm with you, I think it's my constitutional right to be free from other people's religions.
Interesting perspective, although not sure I agree with your interpretation.
How can freedom from religion be measured and where is the line drawn? Is freedom from religion the right to not be exposed to it whatsoever in public view? What about when you're a patient or working in a religious hospital and there are crucifixes in every patient room? Is it your right to request it to be removed because you have freedom from religion?
I think that you are free not to be forced to practice a government-sanctioned religion, or any religion at all for that matter. But not sure we can protect people from exposure to any religion at all. Religion is a part of our society and there are going to be visible artifacts, symbols and other outward signs in society that you are bound to be exposed to, even if that entails me saying a prayer to my God about you.
RedSox33RN
1,483 Posts
I would not be offended at all, whether a Christian, Jew, Wiccan - whomever wanted to say a prayer or good thought for me and those I've left behind. I can see how some would not want such a thing, so maybe it's best to do it quietly or "in your mind", as I often pray (though I'm not a church-goer, I do have beliefs and believe in prayer).
I'm attending a Catholic college and by chance am doing clinicals at a Catholic hospital. Often our clinical instructor will have a prayer at the end of pre-conference (at first I wondered if it was a "God, please help the patients I'm about to unleash these new students on!" LOL) and those of us that want to stay, can. If we don't, that's fine also. Most of the instructors at the school are Roman Catholic, and I've found it very comforting to find prayer a good part of my life again.
As part of my learning, I must ask each of my patients if they are spiritual or have any religious preference. Many, even in a Catholic hospital, say no, but do tell me I can say a prayer for them, or even just think good thoughts. I do as they ask.