Religion's Place in Nursing

[CHIRN]

I often read Billy Graham's column and thought today's was particulary pertinent to our profession. I'm just curious as to your own personal thoughts and feelings on the matter. (Please, no screaming at one another...this is not a debate.)

Dear Dr. Graham,

I'd like to be a Christian, but I have a hard time believing that Jesus rose from the dead. You see, I'm an intensive care nurse, and I know that once a person dies, that's the end. Maybe you can help me get past these doubts. -- Mrs. K.W.

Dear Mrs. K.W.:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the most important event in all history -- and yes, incredible as it may seem, it really did happen.

In fact, it might interest you to know that one of the Gospels was written by a medical doctor (Luke). Like you, he knew that death is final and irreversible -- and yet he also gave us one of the most extensive accounts of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Why? Because he had thoroughly investigated the evidence for Jesus' resurrection for himself and he knew only one conclusion was possible: Jesus had come back from the dead.

Why is the resurrection important? Why did God raise Jesus from the dead? One reason was to prove that Jesus was who He said He was: the divine Son of God, sent from heaven to save us from our sins. The Bible says that He "was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:4). The resurrection sets Jesus apart from every other person who has ever lived.

But the resurrection points to an even greater truth: Death has now been conquered! The grave is not the end, but heaven's doors are now open! Jesus is alive, and He wants to come into your life today. Why not discover this great truth for yourself by turning to Christ today?

Edited to remove the dead link that stretched things past the edge of the screen - hope it makes it easier to read :)! - Ratched

[leslie :-D]

If you were my patient and you were in need of spiritual help I would ask YOU what you believed and how best I could help you fulfill that need...a patient expressing spiritual pain is NOT an invitation to proselytize...your God isn't theirs.

The importance of religion is a question better directed to the patients we care for..it should be included in every nursing assessment we do so we will know what to do when the patient needs spiritual help.

It would also be nice if nurses could respect other nurses beliefs too but this problem shouldn't be a real issue because any smart adult knows discussing politics, religion or sex is inappropriate in a workplace setting...RIGHT?

great post....and there is the nsg. dx of spiritual distress not to be forgotten.

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

Faith, of course, is intensely personal. It's not something you can gain by reason, and it's not something you can force on people by trying to pile arguments onto them. It's not something that comes to all people, and that's fine.

Also, in defense of psychomachia, faith also isn't science. Faith can't be science. Science, of course, is measurable, repeatable and disprovable description of physical properties. As soon as we try to confuse science and faith, both get weakened.

With that distinction made, there is no debate left! What you say is true, but I think you just took all the fun out of this thread! :chuckle Seriously, you make an excellent point!

[gomedina]

I think each of us is entitled to their ow opinion. Besides we have better get motivated for a higher cause to really do well in this world. Selfishness is not enough motivation to hang on to.

Personally, I don't really know what to think of religion since I got burned by churches many times. Leaders often have a God complex thinking they have to be obeyed to the fullest. Re Jesus, I was raised beleiving in Him although I'm in a stage where I'm seeking for some answers now. I believe Jesus' existence canot be questioned. Whether He did rose from the grave or not, He did turned the world upside down. His impact remains unquestionable. Makes you think.

[shel_wny]

With that distinction made, there is no debate left! What you say is true, but I think you just took all the fun out of this thread! :chuckle Seriously, you make an excellent point!

I beg to differ! This post isn't about who is right, who is wrong, or even who is religious. It's about how and if nurses use their personal religion to cope with the death and pain they see in nursing, or if their religion made them want to be a nurse and help people. ChrisA is quite right with his statement but the argument was not about science and faith at all. He was just answering psychomachia's post which was quite out of place. :)

Shel

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

I beg to differ! This post isn't about who is right, who is wrong, or even who is religious. It's about how and if nurses use their personal religion to cope with the death and pain they see in nursing, or if their religion made them want to be a nurse and help people. ChrisA is quite right with his statement but the argument was not about science and faith at all. He was just answering psychomachia's post which was quite out of place. :)

Shel

I was one of the posters on the other thread that got merged with this one. I see you were kind of bummed about that, I was, too. Our thread was more of a debate that was being handled quite civally, not so much about nurisng and religion in the way this one was. My interest in religion and how it pertains to work is pretty much a non-issue, except for when I need to recognize my patients faith, as it pertains to their care. So...anyway, my point and Chris being that since science is measurable and faith is not, then it is in deed difficult to truly debate the two.

[Betty_SPN_KS, LPN]

I am a very strong christian, so yes i do believe that Jesus was ressurected, science cannot explain some things. God is more powerful that science, and with him all things are possible. :)

When i say i am a strong christian, i mean really strong. I go to the Church of Christ, and we speak where the bible speaks and are silent where the bible is silent.

that meas we do not celebrate jesus birthday because the bible mentions no such date or says we should celebrate is.. so x-mas is not a religious thing

same for easter.

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book." Rev:22 18-19 (oh i think thats it, i dont claim to know everything since ive only been a christian for about 4 1/2 years.)

This probably seems strange to most people... heh

In a way, I understand. I used to be part of something that didn't celebrate the holidays, either. Now I tend to believe this is a "personal conviction" area (though I may be wrong). Before that I was part of a denomination that taught pacifism/nonresistance. Again, I think it's a personal conviction thing.

[Kyriaka]

Yes, this is a "religious" thread, but I think if you go back and read all the posts you'll see that the issue of belief and non-belief has been a main focal point.

_______________

Actually it was not. Shel had a differant thread that was merged with the other one. Her thread was not this bent.

[psychomachia]

_______________

Actually it was not. Shel had a differant thread that was merged with the other one. Her thread was not this bent.

Then perhaps reading the other posts before telling someone they are "not following the rules" would be in order.

[Kyriaka]

Then perhaps reading the other posts before telling someone they are "not following the rules" would be in order.

________________

She didnt know her thread had been combined. So she was citing the rules of HER thread when it started. She thought you were on her thread.

The threads should have been kept seperate.

Geez. What a problem!!

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

Then perhaps reading the other posts before telling someone they are "not following the rules" would be in order.

what we seem to have merged are a thread about what, if anything, spirituality or religion (I'm not sure I see a real distinction) means to us in nursing and another about whether conservative Protestants are stupid or everyone else is going to hell.

Nobody likes to be scolded, and I'll freely admit I can get as aggravated over creationism as the next guy, but I was really liking where people just told what they believed, how it related to nursing, and how nursing has affected their beliefs.

Arguing about religion is futile, but discussing religion doesn't have to be. I think a lot of us would rather hear about what matters to you and works for you than why you think someone else is wrong. Does that make sense?

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

what we seem to have merged are a thread about what, if anything, spirituality or religion (i'm not sure i see a real distinction) means to us in nursing and another about whether conservative protestants are stupid or everyone else is going to hell.

nobody likes to be scolded, and i'll freely admit i can get as aggravated over creationism as the next guy, but i was really liking where people just told what they believed, how it related to nursing, and how nursing has affected their beliefs.

arguing about religion is futile, but discussing religion doesn't have to be. i think a lot of us would rather hear about what matters to you and works for you than why you think someone else is wrong. does that make sense?

you bet it does, mike.

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

I bet the mods never thought they'd create such a stir by combining two "similar" threads!! Now we aren't only discussing/debating about religion and nursing, we are arguing over which way to do it is best! :chuckle