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 1,500-2,000 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 for the list of
questions. Be sure to address the implications of these beliefs for health care.
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.
Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity: First Draft
Abstract
As determined, faith and diversity remains one of the essential components in healthcare.
This paper seeks to conduct a comparison of faith and diversity through the use of the seven
worldview questions. The paper will additionally address the critical components of two
religions and some of the essential factors that need to be considered by health care givers.
Additionally, the paper will address my personal perspective of healing and how this can be
applied in care.
Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity:
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY: FIRST DRAFT
Healthcare providers, despite their level of practice, interact with people from different
faiths. Therefore, the providers should accept and know about the diverse faith expressions.
Worth noting, diversity is a fundamental component when seeking to provide equitable
healthcare where there is no discrimination. Both the religious backgrounds of the patients and
professionals matter a lot as they influence how disease is perceived, disease management, care
delivery, and how those involved interact.
There are some common perspectives on various healthcare matters in Buddhism and
Christianity. There is a great need for providers to be equipped with the necessary skills so as to
be able to handle the patients appropriately. Hence, faith diversity should be assimilated in the
practice so that the patients are served optimally. This paper aims at offering a comparative
investigation of Christianity and Buddhism as faith philosophies with varying healthcare
provision aspects.
Comparing Christianity and Buddhism on Matters of Health
The Concept of God
The concept of God according to Christianity varies from that of the Buddhists.
According to Christianity, God is considered as divine and possess come attributes such as
omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience and believe that man was created in the image of
God. According to Christians, man was created for the primary purpose of fellowship with God
with the unity between man and God considered attainable by abiding to the teachings of Christ
who is Gods physical embodiment(Koenig, 2012). Jesus according to Christians is the son of
God and his teachings are considered to have come from God given through scriptures. God as
viewed by the Christians is viewed as the healer as stated in the word(Psalm 103:2-5)
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY: FIRST DRAFT
According to the Buddhists, there is a belief that there is no existence of an external
concept of God thus attributing everything that exists as spontaneous thus arising and growing
like seed(Koenig, 2012). It is however essential to consider that the non-Buddhist tend to
misunderstand the nature of Buddha and believe that the same concept is evident as that of Christ
that personifies God on earth and determine this as far from truth. The Buddhists in line with this
consider Buddha as the greatest physician who had the skills of diagnosing and administering
healing in a spiritual manner and which would bring results.
The Concept of Self
According to the doctrines of the Christians as ascribed in the Old and New Testaments
which are considered as a collection of writings from Christ’s disciples on his teachings, the
Christians individual souls are bound to be redeemed during the second coming of Christ who is
considered as the savior and who will save the souls of the Christians (Koenig, 2012). This
determines the fact that the Christian faith is driven by the relationship between an individual’s
soul, the self and God, a factor that will determines if one is to go to heaven or hell. Christians in
this case are self-aware that their lives are in the hands of God even when ill with this explaining
the reasons why prayer is made to God.
However, the Buddhists consider the element of self as the changing of mental and
physical forces. These forces are determined in accordance to the feelings, sensations, physical
form, perceptions and intellectual activities that make up the self (Tan, Chan, & Reidpath, 2013).
In this case, the element of self is not considered as permanent. In relation to self, the Buddhists
believe that it is the initiative of an individual to engage in intellectual activities such as
consciousness and volitions in order to get healed.
Suffering
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY: FIRST DRAFT
Suffering is an issue that varies according to these two faiths. Christians believe that the
element of suffering originated from man’s transgressions and believe that the continuation of
rejection of God would result in eternal suffering (Tan, et.al.2013). On the other hand, Christians
also believe that God sent Christ to die on the cross to redeem man from suffering through
Christ. This can be explained best in accordance to John 14:6. Suffering in this case would result
in the form of sicknesses that people undergo that is attributed to either a transgression as viewed
by the Christians.
On the other hand, the Buddhist view on suffering is in relation to the Four Noble Truths
which are considered as the reflections made by Buddha. Buddha alleges that there are different
measures of suffering with the converse of suffering attributed to earthly pleasures(Tan,
et.al.2013).The Buddhists in this case believe that sicknesses would result out of the desires of
earthly pleasures as compared to the Christians who believe that the reason for suffering is
engagement in sin.
Miracles
The Christians believe that miracles are some of the essential elements as explained in
scriptures and are performed by God. The Christians therefore allege that miracles are the
supernatural acts of creation that are accomplished through the word (Tan, et.al.2013). This can
be viewed in some of the happenings in scripture such as the healing of a blind man in John 9:1-
- Christians in this case believe that miracles are bound to in their lives when they are ill and
this supports the reasons why prayers are made to God.
The Buddhist on the other hand believes in the aspect of miracles. However, they Buddha
allege that such powers can only be acquired when an individual trains his mind to meditate. In
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY: FIRST DRAFT
this case, individuals have the ability to train their mind to meditate and concentrate mentally in
order to achieve miracles.
Prayers
Prayer is all about approaching divinity humbly, and five main aspects are involved.
These are confession, thanksgiving, praise, beseeching, and petitioning. Buddhists often pray to
awaken their inner strengths so as to be able to counter problems like ill health. A majority of the
Buddhists pray before undergoing through complicated clinical procedures like chemotherapy or
surgery. In the same way, Christians have a deep regard for prayer and they often pray to seek
God’s healing. For the case of Christians, they use examples from the Bible to strengthen the
belief that they will be healed after praying, such as the case of Hezekiah in second Kings
chapter 20 and verse 5 (Chui et al., 2014).
Meditation
Meditation is used regularly as a therapeutic strategy for promoting diseases recovery.
This approach’s scientific concepts are not clear. However, scientists have the belief that there
exists an amazing biological mechanism which is connected to the process. A lot of research
work has studied the mindfulness meditation that Buddhists use and established that there is
indeed a solid biological linkage as well as the perceived spiritual functionality. Christians
mostly engage in meditation via prayers. A lot of studies describe this practice as a non-
pharmacological strategy that is effective in promoting patients’ recovery. The effectiveness
linked to the practice motivates scientists to assess the biological importance connected to the
process (Koenig, 2012). On the other hand, Christians also believe in the meditation of scripture
as another essential element is the promotion of recovery. This is closely tied to prayer since the
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY: FIRST DRAFT
patient recites the scriptures verses in prayer. It is essential to consider that the Buddhist also
believe in meditation and also meditate during moments when there is a need of recovery.
Beliefs
Both Buddhism and Christianity stress that both beliefs and faith offer some effectiveness
in curing different conditions. There is a belief in both religions that people can actually recover
from different diseases so long as they possess strong faith and belief. Believers of the two
religions dedicate themselves to the beliefs they hold before praying or offering sacrifices while
seeking divine healing (Young, 2011). Basically, religion determines the manner in which people
express their beliefs in relation to disease management, etiology, and treatment. The two
religions also instill the belief that the followers would realize a prognosis that is desirable. The
information and teachings that the believers have about different diseases basically influence
their beliefs.
What patients consider important when being cared for by providers with different
spiritual beliefs
When receiving care from providers with different spiritual beliefs, patients are often
uncomfortable. Therefore, they should inform the provider about matters they consider important
or feel necessary during care and treatment reception. Providers have a duty of respecting the
patients’ wishes. Therefore, competent care would be provided after the wishes are understood.
Overlooking the patient’s beliefs would lead to the patient’s dissatisfaction. In case the provider
conflicts with the wishes of the patient, he or she can guide the patient to personnel who share
the same beliefs as the patients or one who can offer religious services. Both Christians and
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY: FIRST DRAFT
Buddhists would benefit a lot if connected to their chaplains (Tan, Chan & Reidpath, 2013). It is
in this case essential for health care givers to understand the religions of the patients. Patients
would want to have their care givers to respect their religious affiliations
Individual Spiritual Perspective In Relation To Healing
In my view, it is essential to consider that the concept of healing is one that is existent. I
believe that healing still happens as it did in the times of Jesus and this requires the element of
faith in action. However, it is important to consider the fact that healing may also be impacted by
miracles. This can be supported by the instances in the scriptures of healing.
Lessons from the research
There are different aspects which highlight the need to affirm as well as celebrate
diversity. Healthcare providers should seek to be familiar with the beliefs and practices of the
different religions, which would enable them offer religion-sensitive care. Respect for other
people’s religions can promote peace, harmony, and brotherly love that people are constantly
seeking. There is a great need to embrace diversity since this means a lot to the patients
outcomes which are attained. Ignoring diversity in healthcare has often been associated with
immense drawbacks including employee turnover and shortage, increased healthcare costs,
immense negative patient outcomes, and a bad reputation.
Healthcare providers should seek to know about the religion of a patient before beginning
the care process, and ensure that there is a conducive environment in which the patient can
continue practicing his religious beliefs. If need be, providers should link the patient to his or her
chaplain for different services. Even if it takes training, this should be conducted among the
healthcare providers so that they can know about the different religions in details so that their
efforts in care provision can bear desirable fruits (Schumm & Stoltzfus, 2011). Without
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY: FIRST DRAFT
considering the religious and spiritual aspects that the patients hold dear, the care being offered is
mostly ineffective. This is based on the fact that healthcare and healing are holistic factors that
rely on so many factors. If some factors are ignored, then the needed outcomes would not be
realized.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, there is a close connection between spirituality, patient outcomes, and
healing. Providers should acknowledge the beliefs and faith of the patients when offering care to
them for patient satisfaction to be enhanced. Through their different religions, followers gain
hope and are able to think positively, which greatly promotes patient recovery (Bajaj,
Chaudhary& Shrestha, 2013). Buddhism as well as Christianity promotes the recovery and
healing of the followers. Hence, providers should be keen on offering the patients an
environment in which they can undertake their different spiritual activities like meditation and
prayers. This promotes positive outcomes and satisfaction, and ensures religious-sensitive care.
In my view, it is essential to consider that the concept of healing is one that is existent. I believe
that healing still happens as it did in the times of Jesus and this requires the element of faith in
action. However, it is important to consider the fact that healing may also be impacted by
miracles. This can be supported by the instances in the scriptures of healing.
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY: FIRST DRAFT
References
Bajaj, B. K., Chaudhary, S., & Shrestha, R. (2013). Etiological beliefs of patients with
neurological disorders attending a tertiary care center: A cross-sectional study. Journal of
Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 4(4), 383–386
Chui, P. L., Abdullah, K. L., Wong, L. P., &Taib, N. A. (2014). Prayer-for-health and
complementary alternative medicine use among Malaysian breast cancer patients during
chemotherapy. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14, 425.