Health Care and Wellness Provider Faith Diversity

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Feb 20, 2024

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Health Care and Wellness Provider and Faith Diversity Kristin M. Edwards Grand Canyon University HLT-302: Spirituality and Christian Values in Health Care and Wellness Professor Joe Williams 5 November 2023 1

Health Care and Wellness Provider and Faith Diversity Spirituality in health care and wellness has been discussed in faith groups and a topic of conversation in different health care circles. In the health care field, health care staff encounter all types of people from differing socioeconomic groups, demographics, and different religious affiliations or beliefs. Having the knowledge and understanding faith diversity will facilitate a healthy working environment that ensures respectful communication and interaction between patients, support systems, and all health care staff. The purpose of this essay is to compare two differing faiths and religions to see how answering the fundamental worldview questions connect the two religions and how they have opposing views. The two perspectives this analysis will cover include the Christian perspective and Buddhist perspective. After answering the fundamental worldview questions for each religion, we will discuss how each faith’s connection between faith and healing in health care. In health care and the decision-making process in determining a course of treatment it is imperative for health care providers to be aware of their patients' religious and spiritual beliefs. “A chasm may form when the full extent of family beliefs are not known to the providers and/or do not coincide with the care recommended based on scientific data” (Arutyuyan, Odetola, Swieringa, & Niedner, 2018). When determining the proper patient care and treatment plan, providers must keep the cultural, sociological, philosophical, and religious factors in mind when thinking about how to interact with patients of different spiritualities. To begin understanding different spiritualities, understanding the basic worldview fundamental questions and answering them according to the religion and beliefs of the patient are essential. According to A Called to care: A Christian worldview for nursing, “Worldviews are the most fundamental and encompassing views of reality shared by a people in a culture. A worldview incorporates 2

assumptions about the nature of things—about the ‘givens’ of reality” (Shelly & Miller, 2006, p.34). The first worldview question is defined as what a prime reality is, this will be answered in the Christian and Buddhist perspective. In Christianity, prime reality is God who is the sole creator of everything and an infinite being which is beyond the human understanding. Christians believe in the Holy Trinity meaning God is three persons in one, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In Buddhism, there is no ultimate prime reality to believe in. "Buddhists believe that the human life is one of suffering, and that meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good behavior are the ways to achieve enlightenment, or nirvana” (Buddhism, 2023). Buddhists do not believe in a singular deity or God, but they do believe there are supernatural figures and elements that hinder people from achieving enlightenment. To have a firm understanding of each faith, it is beneficial to understand the world around us and the nature of it which is the next worldview question we will discuss. As stated earlier, Christians believe that all things were created by God and passages in the Bible are often taken literally as to how the world was created, but there are those who believe it was more symbolic and lean toward a more scientific approach. Buddhists believe the nature of the world is “Man is present in all things and all things are present in man. On the phenomenal level, there seems to be birth, death, being and non-being, but ontologically, these notions cannot be applied to reality” (Hanh, 2022). Understanding what a human being is the next step to answering the worldview questions, Christians believe that human beings were created in God’s image, ““The Christian understanding of human beings as created in the image of God bestows dignity and honor on every person, regardless of social, mental or physical status” (Shelly & Miller, 2006, p.76). In Buddhism, there is a belief that human beings and life exists because there is a cause and life was the effect of that. The belief in life existing as the effect of a cause ties into the belief that things 3

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are always changing, and change is possible on the way to enlightenment. When someone dies, in Christianity there is the hope that there will now be eternal life in Heaven with God based on how they lived and if they have been given salvation from Jesus. In Buddhism, death is a part of life and there is the possibility of being reincarnated for those who have achieved enlightenment and choose to be reborn. The last question of understanding worldviews is if it is possible to know anything, how do we understand right and wrong, and what is the meaning of human history. Humans throughout the world have asked if it is possible to know anything, in Christianity the truth and all knowledge begins and end with God. All revelations are revealed through the Bible and the teachings of his Son. Proverbs 17:15 says, “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent – the Lord detests them both” (NIV). Buddhists seek the path to enlightenment which includes the belief that nothing is fixed, and things will always change. The struggle with what is right and wrong is prevalent in society and wars have been fought over it, in Christianity right and wrong is determined by God and the fall into sin by humanity has blurred those clear lines. Buddhists believe in karma, “In Buddhism we speak of karma as the threefold aspect of action; thinking, speaking and acting. When we produce a thought, that thought can change us and can change the world in a good way or in a bad way” (Hanh, 2023). There are moral precepts Buddhist live by which are refraining from taking life, refrain from misuse of senses and sexual misconduct, refrain from wrong speech, and refrain from getting intoxicated. The Ten Commandments can be compared to these beliefs, but the core difference is the Ten Commandments were given by God and Buddhists do not believe in deity. The Bible is the history of creation, the fall, and the redemption of humanity. Christians rely on the Bible, historically, when believing Jesus was on the Earth and is used in the faith verses evidence debate. Buddhists believe the purpose of life is 4

to end suffering, “You should not try to run away from suffering because you know that a deep understanding of suffering can bring about insight, compassion, and understanding. And that is the foundation of happiness. We do not think that there is a place where there is no suffering” (Hanh, 2023). Christianity and Buddhism both have a personal accountability for outcomes and ways to help comfort the believer through prayer for Christians and meditation for Buddhists. “Within this overlap, faith and spiritual practices may become an essential component for the physician- patient relationship and treatment plan” (Kopel & Habermas, 2019). Having health care workers who understand different faith beliefs is not necessarily a requirement for patients , but it is valued either way. It is comforting for patients to feel like all of their wishes are being respected and not neglected because different spirituality’s require different care methods and support. Treating each person with the same level of respect is crucial in health care and being able to understand different faiths can allow the patient to open up and benefit the overall care. I identify with the Christian faith and I believe in God and the fact Jesus is Lord and Savior. I believe we can find comfort and solace through Him in times of need for strength. My beliefs do not cloud my judgment and treatment of patients with other religions because everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and generosity as directed by Jesus. My faith allows me to treat others with respect and kindness and to advocate for my patients right to express their needs for spiritual and mental compassion while receiving care. Religions often play a part in health care and the treatment of patients and understanding worldviews can bridge the gap in understanding choices patients make and how we can better support them. 5

References Arutyunyan, T. , Odetola, F. , Swieringa, R. & Niedner, M. (2018). Religion and Spiritual Care in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® , 35 (1), 28-33. doi: 10.1177/1049909116682016. Hanh, Thich H. (2022, July 22). Dharma talk: The Buddhist understanding of reality – the mindfulness bell . Parallax Press. https://www.parallax.org/mindfulnessbell/article/dharma-talk-the-buddhist- understanding-of-reality-2/ National Geographic Society. (2023, November 2). Buddhism. 6

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https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/buddhism/ Kopel, J., & Habermas, G. R. (2019). Neural Buddhism and Christian mindfulness in medicine. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings , 32(2), 308–310. https://doi- org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/08998280.2019.1581525 Shelly, J. A., & Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to care: A Christian worldview for nursing (2nd ed.). InterVarsity Press. https://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/intervarsity- press/2006/called-to-care_a-christian-worldview-for-nursing_ebook_2e.php 7

Health Care and Wellness Provider Faith Diversity

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