Healthcare Provider and Faith Diversity Order Instructions: The practice of health care providers at all levels brings you into contact with people from a variety of faiths.
This calls for knowledge and acceptance of a diversity of faith expressions.
The purpose of this paper is to complete a comparative analysis of two faith philosophies towards providing health care, one being the Christian perspective. For the second faith, choose a faith that is unfamiliar to you. Examples of faiths to choose from Sikh, Baha’i, Buddhism, Shintoism, etc.
In a minimum of 1,100-2,000 words, provide a comparative analysis of the different belief systems, reinforcing major themes with insights gained from your research.
In your comparative analysis, address all of the worldview questions in detail for Christianity and your selected faith. Refer to chapter 2 of the Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing for the list of questions. Be sure to address the implications of these beliefs for health care.
•What is prime reality?
•What is the nature of the world around us?
•What is a human being?
•What happens to a person at death?
•Why is it possible to know anything at all?
•How do we know what is right and wrong?
•What is the meaning of human history?
In addition, answer the following questions that address the practical and healthcare implications based on the research:
1. What are critical common components to all religions/beliefs in regards to healing, such as prayer, meditation, belief, etc.? Explain.
2. What is important to patients of the faiths when cared for by health care providers whose spiritual beliefs differ from their own.
In your conclusion, describe your own spiritual perspective on healing, what you have learned from the research and how this learning can be applied to a health care provider.
Support your position by referencing at least three academic resources (preferably from the GCU Library) in addition to the course readings, the Bible, and the textbooks for each religion. Each religion must have a primary source included. A total of six references are required according to the specifications listed above. Incorporate the research into your writing in an appropriate, scholarly manner
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Healthcare Provider and Faith Diversity Sample Answer
HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY
Abstract
The different belief systems result to the varying perspectives by the faith philosophies in regards to how healthcare should be provided. Adequate knowledge and diversity are among the crucial elements that should be possessed by the healthcare providers since the patients they serve are from diverse faith domination. In this case, spirituality is considered when providing healthcare with the aim of ensuring the people from a variety of faiths get the satisfaction of the services. In this paper, the focus would be on the two faith philosophies namely Buddhism and Christianity.
Healthcare Provider and Faith Diversity and Healthcare Care Provider and Faith Diversity
The Christianity and Buddhist faiths represent the spiritual diversity of the patients served in the healthcare systems. The Buddhist have put their belief on meditation which is considered essential for their followers on healing. The provision of healthcare and healing for Christianity is that God heals people through the prayers they dedicate to him. The administration of Medicare among the two faith philosophies is said to contribute to the differing perspectives (Sullivan et al., 2014). An example is the yoga practices and meditation among the Buddhist which is believed to enhance better health status and quick recovery as per Buddha their founder. Such practices are also believed to help in achieving self-confidence optimism resulting in reduced suffering. On the other hand, yoga is not practiced among the Christians which is in contrast to the Buddhist.
Healthcare Provider and Faith Diversity and Worldview Question Responses
The Christians consider the prime reality to be the infinite and personal God only revealed through the Holy Scripture. In this case, he is triune, transcendent, omniscient and sovereign. The Christians are of the belief that the reality of God comes up through the powerful ways he reveals himself to human beings. On the other hand, the Buddhist does not believe in the existence of the prime reality in either the spiritual substance or material substance form. The transcendent truth governing the universe and people is considered by the Buddhist to be the prime reality. The Christians believe that the world is imperfect and disorderly in nature where all human beings are exposed to cause sin. They also view the world as a human-made machine that is created by the superior being with a reason. The Buddhist consider the world as an impersonal existence ground that is neither favorable nor evil for human beings (Lopez, 2015). The Christians consider a human being as a creature that cannot be degraded since it is created in the image and likeness of God thus making humanity valuable. A special status is also accorded to the human beings among the Buddhist who consider them as of great value similar to the Christians.
The Christians are of the belief that the souls go to heaven after death and would be later joined by the physical body upon resurrection. Rebirth and reincarnation are believed to take place after the occurrence of death as for the Buddhist. Communicating with human beings is an active role played by God thus making it possible to know anything since God has created people with the ability and the right capacity as for the Christians. Based on the revelations, the Buddhist hold that it is possible to know everything. The belief system where people operate in reference to morality is used in discerning what right and wrong among the Christians. The code of morality developed among the Buddhist faith is also considered useful in discerning right or wrong. The precepts include avoiding sexual misconduct, stealing, killing, and other evil deeds. The Buddhist believe that human beings have no beginning or end thus inconceivable (Lopez, 2015). Redemption and creation are where humanity lies as for the Christians while the rest is on the history provided by the Bible.
Healthcare Provider and Faith Diversity and the Critical Components to the Buddhism Religion
Seeking divine intervention is considered to be a critical component in the Buddhism religion. They also believe in the physical and spiritual healing. The Christians share the same beliefs with the Buddhists when it comes to spiritual and physical healing. The Christians hold that displaying the cross and making prayers to the Almighty God as their crucial components which differ from Buddhism. The Buddhist does not consider prayers as part of the spiritual support accorded to them by the clergy as for the Christian religion. The precept and meditation are both included as practices among the Buddhist. The tranquility and insight types of meditation make up the meditation practices in Buddhism religion. The spiritual practices are given emphasis in the healing and health approach adopted by the Buddhist. The Buddhist is focused on mental development through the involvement and perfection of compassion and wisdom (Tomkins et al., 2015). The healthcare providers offer assistance to the patients that are interested in the practices adopted in the Buddhism religion. Adherence to the practices and beliefs of Buddhism is envisioned as the holistic type of health in the religion. The Buddhist have no problem with the healthcare providers as long as the patients are allowed to practices the critical components in their religion (Tomkins et al., 2015). In this case, meditation and prayers are vital when it comes to mental and spiritual health. They believe that health practices are complemented by the practices adopted in their religion. The deeper insight of the health conditions is made possible through Buddhist practices. In this case, prayer and meditation are critical components that enhance reduced suffering and quick healing.
Healthcare Provider and Faith Diversity and Critical Components to the Christianity Faith
Displaying the cross and praying are considered to be the main components of the Christian faith. Similar beliefs are also identified among most of the healthcare providers caring for Christian patients. Prayer can be used as an alternative therapy during healing thus complementing the services offered by the practitioners (McGrath, 2016). Good health and healing are believed to be acquired through prayers made to the Supreme Being God. There are cases where the prayers are administered to accelerate healing before the performance of the medical practices such as surgery. The Christians expect that health care providers respect their beliefs in regards to healing. The better healing process is achieved when the Christians pray for generosity, protection, and love which are essential components in the religion. Engaging with the spiritual dimensions is believed to be an important component in enhancing the wellbeing of the Christians. In this case, the Christian faith emphasizes on prayer as the critical component while in the Buddhism religion meditation is considered more important than prayers when it comes to healing and health care matters (McGrath, 2016).
Healthcare Provider and Faith Diversity and Important Factors to Christians and Buddhism Religions during Healthcare Provision
The patients believe in some important factors to be considered especially while receiving care from healthcare providers from other religions. The Christian faith holds that care providers should practice patient-centered care while also considering their practices during the treatment process (Hossler, 2012). It is paramount to show unconditional love to the patients during provision of care to them. Adherence to these principles enhances better healing and good health. In Buddhism religion, the care providers are supposed to be mindful and exhibit love to the patients. The Buddhists believe that it is good for the care providers to work in conjunction with the clergy thus enhancing the sense of greater acceptance among the patients. The Buddhist also require healthcare providers from other religions to practice patient-centered care. Getting inspirations from the healthcare providers are also considered significant in the Buddhism religion. Both the Christians and Buddhist are of the belief that the practitioners should work towards addressing the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the patients irrespective of their faith (Pesut, 2012). The healthcare providers are also expected not to force their beliefs to the patients under their care. Adhering to the human morals and maintenance of love are considered essential in both Christians and Buddhists.
Healthcare Provider and Faith Diversity Conclusion
The spiritual perspective I hold onto is that prayers are essential during the process of healing. However, other practices such as meditation which are major components in other beliefs such as the Buddhist should not be despised but respected. The most important thing learned is that the patients ought to be respected while the services provided should be suited to their belief since it contributes positively to better health and quick healing. The learnings should be applied to healthcare providers through the training curriculum. Such initiatives would help healthcare providers to better comprehend the differing perspectives of the patients in regards to healing thus enabling them to adopt the best measures to suit their beliefs (Pesut, 2012). In this case, everyone’s interests would be safeguarded by the efficient healthcare services they receive.
Healthcare Provider and Faith Diversity References
Hossler, P. (2012). Free health clinics, resistance and the entanglement of Christianity and commodified health care delivery. Antipode, 44(1), 98-121.
Lopez Jr, D. S. (2015). Buddhism in Practice 🙁 Abridged Edition). Princeton University Press.40 (1), 30-76.
McGrath, A. E. (2016). Christian theology: An introduction. John Wiley & Sons.5 (2), 34-45.
Pesut, B., Reimer-Kirkham, S., Sawatzky, R., Woodland, G., & Peverall, P. (2012). Hospitable hospitals in a diverse society: From chaplains to spiritual care providers. Journal of religion and health, 51(3), 825-836.
Sullivan, S., Pyne, J. M., Cheney, A. M., Hunt, J., Haynes, T. F., & Sullivan, G. (2014). The pew versus the couch: Relationship between mental health and faith communities and lessons learned from a VA/Clergy partnership project. Journal of religion and health, 53(4), 1267-1282.
Tomkins, A., Duff, J., Fitzgibbon, A., Karam, A., Mills, E. J., Munnings, K., … & Yugi, P. (2015). Faith-based health care 2 Controversies in faith and health care.
