A Diversity of Faith Philosophy Between Christianity and Buddishm
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: Buddhism
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 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.
A Comparative Analysis of Christianity and Buddhism on Healthcare
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A Comparative Analysis of Christianity and Buddhism on Healthcare
Abstract
This analysis entails a comparison between two religions that believe both ritual practices and religious beliefs plays a great role in the healing process of a patient during medical care. It will look at the questions and worldviews of both religions respectively, comparing certain beliefs that play the role of diversifying their health choices, which may either affects the health care of a patient positively or negatively. This study will also shed light on the similarities and difference between Christian's and Buddhism takes on healing, Comparing and contrasting notions and components of their respective health care points of view. Do they believe in a deity or note? It will also look at the factors that that should be considered when caring for people with diverse faiths and beliefs, especially when a patient is from a different religion from the practitioner.
Introduction
Religious perceptions and beliefs have come to play a great role in medical practices. Foremost, a health care provider needs to understand the relationships between the terms religion, spirituality, and health. Religion is a pursuit in which a person ascribes interest to a greater or Supreme Being. Spirituality is a sense of being connected to a greater being than one's self, involving a search for the meaning of life. Health, as described by the World Health Organization, "is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease of infirmity." (WHO, 1948)
Many religions have faith over health and how diseases can be healed. Therefore research on beliefs over medical routines has brought to light the idea of spirituality over nursing and healing. This, therefore, arouses an interest in studying religious beliefs to medical professionals. I am going to focus on the faith ideologies regarding curative care in both Christianity and Buddhism. This also goes ahead to summarize a world view, where inquisitions by these religions have been used to compare and contrast both stands in faith.
Worldview on Christianity and Buddhism over Health
From these religions, there are views from the world and questions commonly asked. A lot of issues have arisen, though similar in nature but with relative implications requiring different definitions. That’s why there is a need for reasonable terms to be logically employed in accordance to the specifics of these religions. For instance, Christians believe in miracles and healing. They also believe that sickness is one of the earthly sufferings a Christian has to persevere. They also think it's caused by their greatest enemy 'the devil', and it's a kind of temptation set to try their faith. They even believe that sickness is a trap set by Satan, and they should believe in God, who is their healer and their deliverer. (Matthew 13:58)
In a similar way, Buddhists have prescriptions for an ethical and well-being of the spirit for each which urges them to be compassionate and develop wisdom towards all forms of life. Their worldview is holistic and is based on a belief in the correlation between conditioning causes and its effects. Therefore, it's in the law of Karma that its effect is mollified even into the life beyond, since; in Buddhism life is not limited to mere individual existence (Pinit, 2008).
Typical questions asked in both the religions are about the identity of God. Why do people undergo suffering? In Christianity, God is perceived as the Supreme Being and the Creator of the universe. Christians acknowledge his ability to control and heal and even protect them from ailments. But Buddhists are agnostic. They believe in nirvana (Ganeri, 2003). Christians, on the other side, believe in everlasting life and on the teachings of an apocalypse where the soul will leave the body and go to hell( eternal suffering) or heaven (eternal rest and happiness) after the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36, Revelation 20:11 ESV).
In Christianity, health care is perceived as a way of cleansing one's soul. They regard their bodies as the temple of God. Buddhists don’t acknowledge the existence of God or a Supreme Being. The notion of suffering is different in both religions even though they somehow agree on one perception; pain is mysterious. Christians believe that suffering comes after rejecting God, and it is also a form of punishment to those who go against God's teachings. They further believe that they can only be saved from this suffering by accepting and having faith in God (Miller & Shelly, 2006). On the other hand, Buddhists believe in Dukka, a kind of pain that is necessitated for people, and it's determined by their Karma. Both beliefs value the care of needy individuals in the society. In Christianity, it is about loving a neighbor and caring for them as a sign of service to God. This is shown in the Biblical narrative of The Good Samaritan as a teaching by Jesus. He is described as a real person who helps a neighbor (Luke 10:25-37 New International Version). Buddha also declares that 'He who attends on the sick attends on me' (Vin.I, 301ff). He regards visiting the sick as an important aspect of achieving godliness (WhalenBridge & Storhoff, 2010).
How then do we...