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]
You cannot get 'prayed' into heaven. The only way you get to heaven is by coming to Christ by faith while you are alive. Once you are dead--it's over. You are either with the Lord or you are with Satan.
/QUOTE]
I was clinically dead for about 5 minutes after a horrible car accident one time. I didn't see any bright lights... does that mean I'm going to hell to hang out with Satan? I hope Satan has lattes down there.
Sorry guys... bad post... I couldn't help myself.
I think the bright light is from the doc checking your pupils. Did you feel cool or hot?
Interesting question. I would not be offended at all. I am not at all religious and personally don't believe in prayer but respectful of other peoples beliefs/spirituality. I think if someone were to pray for me after I am gone it would be a lovely gesture and the thought would be appreciated.
i disagree. first, she did not say in the presence of a patient, but over their deceased body. secondly, there is not possible way to keep religion and science separate! i have even had "athiest" nurses ask other known christian nurses for prayers for themselves and their patients in times of need. i do not believe in pushing anyone's religion on another- god leaves us the choice to choose...have a great day and i will be praying for you too :-)
"i am curious to know if you would be offended, after death if someone were to say a prayer over you." :balloons: i don't know how i could be offended if dead
:rotfl:
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. in fact, even if one of your patients is extremely religious (of any faith community), i believe the appropriate response is to *validate his or her
experience* w/out sharing a peep about your own. if you begin by "praying for/with somone" it isn't too far to the slippery slope of thinking you just might make decisions affecting others based on *your* personal, religious convictions.
here is an example:
if you have an observant jewish patient who wishes shabbos candles be lit on friday night, i believe this should be coordinated with that patient's synagogue. if a fundamentalist christian wants a laying on of hands, bring on the church members. i'd be horrified to see staff participating though.
if you are treating a unitarian, by all means convene a discussion group at the *patient's* reqest!
i believe the boundary between church and secular hospital has be be as solid as it's is supposed to be between church and state.
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I believe in god, but do not agree with most organized religion due to the way they exclude people who may be very good, but do not follow their particular doctrine. I would not be offended at all. I would be comforted for you to do that for me and anyone I care about.
Well said! I would also either pray silently, or ask permission, before praying aloud. I believe strongly in intercessory prayer, and many have prayed for me, when I had no knowledge, yet felt the healing effects! However, I would not impose my beliefs on a client or his/her family, as this could be stressful to nonbelievers. Thanks for sharing your views,
Peg
I don't understand why this is even an issue if it is said silently. I would be appalled if someone took it upon themselves to say a prayer for me aloud without permission. In my death the family would need to give permission. I am a practicing Episcopalian but would never project my beliefs on anyone at any time. I would expect the same respect in return......
I beg to differ on the "required to adhere" portion of your statement. Someone earlier in the thread talked about laws made due to the bible, and I have to bring up one new one in particular that upsets me. The recent passage of the "marriage definition" laws in about 11 states and proposed federal law by President Bush. This law is based PURELY on the bible's views toward marriage and it has been forced on a significant part of the population now. Marriage should not be defined biblically and there definitely should not be laws limiting it as they are, and I think this applies no matter what your view of homosexuals. Review all evidence in our society and I believe you will find more instances of laws and practices that we all have to adhere to that are religiously based. What about the Pledge??
There are innumerable scientific studies that demonstrate children living in two parent homes with a mother and father are better off than the other children when you look at population groups. Of course there are individual exceptions, but the value of families is actually a value to the long term existence of a society. Look up the studies and you will find that it doesn't just reflect on religious beliefs. And, since each of us has a spiritual nature, why would one assume that laws based on religious beliefs are wrong? Just wondering-
Laws based on Biblican preachings? Bah Hum Bug! Animals know that a "union" is between opposite sexes, Nature has laws...oh that is right- Science proves a "Higher Power" created all of these...Interesting to see that Christianity is the oldest religion and also acknowledges God as the Creator.....Just my two cents worth
I like what you are saying here, especially about nurses assisting clients in their spiritual needs-whatever the client's religious beliefs. I have a friend who works with Native Americans, who shared that she helps coordinate, and is blessed, by the observance of tribal customs at the death of a member, although she herself is a strong Christian. It is all about the client's and his/her family's needs at that time!
P.S. We share the same, favorite Bible verse!
Peg
Well your obviously focusing on bereavement which is important for grieving relatives, and is not fully covered by some sects.
In Christianity some Churches do not deal with death properly and it is just swept under the table. Death is about rememberance and anyone who has been to Yad Vashem in Jeruslem, the Jewish museum to the holocaust, will know that rememberance is important. The Catholics in general allow masses to be said for dead people, so in part help families in their grieving process. The Church of England sweep death under the table and I guess society as a whole covers it over.
In countries like the Philippines ever All Souls Day families gather at the graves of loved ones to say a prayer. Its such a pity that Halloween has become such a commercial load of baloney, and gathering at the grave side is not now practised.
Death will occur to us all and a prayer said over a dead person can help both the one who has said the prayer and the onlookers.
Helping people die in dignity is a nursing duty. The choice of words after death couild upset a member of the family - nurses should understand the bereavement process.
Each of us, forum members may have a different paradigm of death, however in Christianity we say, 'Oh death where is your sting? The sting of death is Victory in Christ Jesus' :)
Personally, I would prefer NOT to have prayers said over me. That said, I would never stop anyone from praying for me if it made THEM feel better. For example, when my husband passed away last year, many friends and family "kept me in their prayers." It made them feel better and didn't cost me anything.
On the other hand, I've seen a lot of death bed conversions. Perhaps I'll be one too and welcome prayers when I'm gone.
zenman
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