I am a BSN student taking a nursing theory class at the moment. I was wondering what is everybody's opinion regarding expressing religious believes in nursing theories. Does it offend you to find the word "God" when reading about certain theories. Example : "Persons have mutual relationships with the world and God" (Quote from my theory book re works of Sister Callista Roy)
I am Catholic myself so I do not find such statements offensive...I am just wondering what others think on this topic
Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..
Hello everybody,
I am a BSN student taking a nursing theory class at the moment. I was wondering what is everybody's opinion regarding expressing religious believes in nursing theories. Does it offend you to find the word "God" when reading about certain theories. Example : "Persons have mutual relationships with the world and God" (Quote from my theory book re works of Sister Callista Roy)
I am Catholic myself so I do not find such statements offensive...I am just wondering what others think on this topic
Thanks:heartbeat
Do you think we can get this thread back on topic?:offtopic:
It is about religion in nursing theories not either the nurses' religious beliefs or the tenets of various religions.
if the god of the bible is such a fantasy, such a fairy tale and myth, why is he the only one atheists and secular humanists have issue with?? surely hearing about god doesn't force anyone to believe, any more than hearing about the menace of global warming according to st. al of gore makes me believe in that
while you and anyone else is free to believe anything that floats their boat, be it god, budha, whatever. the reason that i, as a citizen of the united states, direct my "i dont believe in god" comments towards the christian god "of the bible" is pretty simple. because that is the one religion that has been shoved down my throat and put in my face and to be quite honest, smothered me, for the past 31 years. if a budhist priest came to my house 2-3 times a week for 6 months and insisted on speaking to me when i was unshowered/potting soil up to my elbows/ear defeningly screaming sick miserable child on hip then i would be "targeting" them quite a bit more. this has happened to me, within a month time period, and continues to happen to me atleast once a month. the churches in my community feel that i'm not being receptive because they are sending the wrong person or something and just keep sending different people. they seem to think that i am in mortal risk and am abusing my children by my sheer lack of desire to attend their church.
christianity is not the main religion everywhere, but it is very much the main religion where i live. my hospital even allows people to go to a prayer meeting on site on the clock every thursday. so... since i know my audience, i direct my comments thus. if i were to say "i don't believe in thor" it really would not make much sense to you now would it? :)
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
While you and anyone else is free to believe anything that floats their boat, be it god, budha, whatever. The reason that I, as a citizen of the United States, direct my "I dont believe in God" comments towards the Christian God "of the bible" is pretty simple. Because that is the one religion that has been shoved down my throat and put in my face and to be quite honest, smothered me, for the past 31 years. If a budhist priest came to my house 2-3 times a week for 6 months and insisted on speaking to me when I was unshowered/potting soil up to my elbows/ear defeningly screaming sick miserable child on hip then I would be "targeting" them quite a bit more. This has happened to me, within a month time period, and continues to happen to me atleast once a month. The churches in my community feel that I'm not being receptive because they are sending the wrong person or something and just keep sending different people. They seem to think that I am in mortal risk and am abusing my children by my sheer lack of desire to attend their church.
Christianity is not the main religion everywhere, but it is VERY much the main religion where I live. My hospital even allows people to go to a prayer meeting on site ON THE CLOCK every Thursday. So... since I know my audience, I direct my comments thus. If I were to say "I don't believe in Thor" it really would not make much sense to you now would it? :)
I don't believe you have an issue with my belief in God. You have a problem with the Christians, in your community, and their proselyting, as well as your facility's rule allowing staff to go to prayer meetings on 'company' time. I am a practicing Catholic. And I would have a problem with an employer who allows others to neglect their responsibilities to attend a prayer meeting. And I would be totally turned off by someone frequently approaching me and attempting to 'witness' to me, just like you do. In fact, I believe many of us would share your dislike.
A belief in a higher power is a personal matter. It has no place in the workplace. And if someone expresses a non interest in listening, they have every right to expect their request will be listened to and they will be left alone.
ok, let me chime in with woody as another catholic who views mr. bailey's posts as uneccessarily goading. he does not speak for the church, and while i applaud his dedication to his faith, feel that he could use a few semesters in a jesuit college or university to buff up his theology..and perhaps a good book on tact and communication. in a pinch, i'll assist a patient to pray in any manner that reflects their own heart.
having said that, some folks (and you know who you are ) need to rein in the catholic-bashing. the catholic church has had some ugly moments, which is why it is referred to as a "pilgrim church on earth"...god always has it right, we mere mortals can and do screw up. argue the existance of god to your heart's content, but ix-nay on the unwarrented attacks. i know i am not going to convert anyone, and frankly its not my job. just know that there are good hearted and sincere folks in all denominations--and a fair number of butt-heads. goes for all the secular humanists, too....
Old school here, It is not about you, it is about the patient. Your beliefs or Your thoughts. Never about YOU! No matter how you believe or what you think....It is about them! If it were you? Would you care about your nurses beliefs? This question is null and void.....because when some one needs care, it is never about YOU. It is about them!
...and as i have stated previously, when an american says that they don't believe in god, it's always the judeo-christian god that they don't believe in!! no one seems concerned about the existance of or theolgy related to thor, buddha, mohammed, shinto ancestors or the sun-god!!
if the god of the bible is such a fantasy, such a fairy tale and myth, why is he the only one atheists and secular humanists have issue with?? surely hearing about god doesn't force anyone to believe, any more than hearing about the menace of global warming according to st. al of gore makes me believe in that
because i have yet to be harassed, locked in a closet, beaten, or screamed at by followers of thor, buddha, etc, like i was as a child by the fundamentalists who ran my elementary school. the other religions accept my desire not to discuss religions and leave me in peace. i've never gotten substandard care from a buddhist nurse upset with me because i asked not her not to discuss religious topics with me as i did with the christian nurse from hell in ob/gyn.
secondarily, i have an issue with a religion claiming to be the only truth out there when they stole ideas from every religion they crushed along the way to get more converts while simultaneously claiming these religions have no validity. if that's the case, it logically follows that stolen invalid beliefs can't magically become the one truth.
believe it or not i have quite a few christian friends, but they are friends because they understand i simply have no interest in conversion.
Once again!!!!!! It is not about you!!!!!On the day I die, I want it to be about me. My family will not care about you or your life. They will care only about "NOW" In my sprituality, I don't have to be the "Top Dog" I just have to be there for the family.
I have an issue with a religion claiming to be the only truth...Believe it or not I have quite a few Christian friends, but they are friends because they understand I simply have no interest in conversion.
It sounds like you want someone to send you some nice pamphlets. :wink2:
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
Old school here, It is not about you, it is about the patient. Your beliefs or Your thoughts. Never about YOU! No matter how you believe or what you think....It is about them! If it were you? Would you care about your nurses beliefs? This question is null and void.....because when some one needs care, it is never about YOU. It is about them
nightmare, RN
1 Article; 1,297 Posts
Do you think we can get this thread back on topic?:offtopic:
It is about religion in nursing theories not either the nurses' religious beliefs or the tenets of various religions.