Christianity and Buddhism Perspective on Health Provision - Essay Example

Christianity and Buddhism Perspective towards Health Provision Human healthcare services play an increasingly important role in maintaining health conditions and proper mental state of the patients. Difference in religious belief and practices influence the mode, nature, and type of medical services provided to various members of different religions. This paper completes a comparative analysis of the different religious belief of Christianity and Buddhism towards provision of health services in hospitals. Through scholarly articles and academic textbooks, the paper gives a detailed explanation and implication of each religious practice and beliefs on the concerned patients. The discussion of this paper can be useful to medical practitioners in handling patient from these two religions. Introduction Christianity and Buddhism Perspective towards Health Provision The connection between religious practices and provision of health care services is significant and require particular attention. The need for medical practitioners to understand different religious beliefs and traditions has received growing amount of support from various believers worldwide. Christianity and Buddhism are the perfect examples of two religions with different beliefs concerning health care provision. Whereas Christians believe in home care, use of drugs, prayers among others, Buddhists believe in a peaceful mind, use of mantras, and modesty of health practitioners among others. Knowledge of these beliefs makes medical doctors and nurses better positioned to handle patients from either religious background. Christianity Perspective Prime Reality According to Roman Catholics, the prime reality is that there is God who has infinite wisdom, is transcendent, omniscient, sovereign, and the creator of the earth. Due to this, Christians believe in the power of prayers in healing the sick (James 5:15, King James Version). According to them, God channels the healing energy to the individual through prayers. In the case of prayers from religious leaders, they believe that God, through the priests, heals the sick. The priests anoint and give Holy Communion to the sick in the health facilities. This act benefits the sick since they receive both spiritual and medical healing. The implication of this belief for healthcare is that the healthcare providers believe that their work is to treat patients, but God is the one who heals the sick. Human Beings and Death Additionally, Roman Catholics through the scriptures of the Bible firmly believe and are hopeful that there is life after death (Molewyk et al., 2005). The church states that death is a transition from the real world to the spiritual realm. They believe dead Christians are destined to a quiet and peaceful life in the spiritual world. Additionally, they believe that the dead will resurrect when Christ comes. For health practitioners, this means that when a patient dies, they are comforted that they have gone to rest in a better place. With that in mind, they can encourage the bereaved by telling them that their loved one is in a peaceful place waiting for them to join. For Christians, the human body is sacred as they believe it is the temple of the Lord and made in the image of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, King James Version). As a result, Catholics heavily criticize autopsies and do not tolerate such practices on the human body since they consider the body holy and an image and likeness of God. For health workers, this means that examination and post-mortem on a female faithful should be done by female caregivers. Similarly, organs donations for scientific experimentation are highly forbidden unless a patient states in his will or give consent before he dies. Right and Wrong, and Knowing Things Knowing what is right or wrong for Christians is guided by the laws and scriptures in the bible. Thus, Christians base right or wrong according to their interpretation of the bible scriptures. For instance, since death is sin, even the death of an unborn child is considered murder. Evidently, Roman Catholics believe that health practitioners should concentrate on protecting lives of the unborn. According to them, using medical interventions and birth control interfere with the life of an unborn child (Arritt, 2014). However, medical practitioners are allowed to conduct any procedures on women in cases of emergency. If such procedures result in loss of life, the church holds no one accountable. Furthermore, it is possible to know things because Christians have God-given wisdom that allows them to differentiate right from wrong. Nature of World and Human History Equally important, Christianity advocates provision of essential health services and care at their believers’ home (Shelly & Miller, 2006). To them, the world that was created by God in an orderly manner has turned chaotic and sinful, therefore, it is strange for their faithful to seek medical services in the ordinary government and private health facilities. In the case of nursing care, the church’s beliefs and directions state that the concerned Christian should seek care at Christian Nursing Home. Though the church has staunch belief in the above practices, it permits admission of accident and emergency cases in the public hospitals for those in critical conditions. Buddhism Perspective The prime reality in Buddhism is that Buddhists recognize the existence of supernatural or god-like being, but do not believe in God. Thus, regarding healthcare, they pray and meditate to the supernatural being to aid in healing. For healthcare providers, this means that they must understand the nature of Buddhism belief in healing in order to give appropriate care. On the nature of human beings, Buddhists believe that humans are one with God. They also firmly believe in nirvana, which is the soberness and clarity of the human mind (Kozak, 2010). Regarding the nature of the world, Buddhists believe the world is a sinful place since people ignore the true nature of reality. As a result, they view things such as illness as repercussions to the sinful doings of a person. Thus, healthcare providers handling Buddhists patients should realize that to them diseases are caused by the supernatural forces of the world. In order to know what is wrong and right, Buddhists resort to meditation, which helps in knowing the truths of life and avoid committing sins, among knowing other things in life. Because of this, the religion highly condemns use of analgesics in healthcare. Buddhists discourage use of such drugs for their patient, as they believe they corrupt the human mind. The religion encourages mindfulness meditation and relaxation during sickness and trying moments. Buddhists also believe that nurses should provide their patients a quiet and tranquil setting in order to facilitate efficient reflection. Though this technique is useful to some extent, it leaves the patient in total pain, as such measures are not medically advised by healthcare professionals. On the death of a Buddhist faithful, the religion demands the health practitioners to keep the body as still as possible. According to Arritt (2014), the religion states that death is a time of transition to the next world. The nursing department are expected to allow minimum interruption with a dead person to enable time for efficient meditation. It is because Buddhists believe that when one dies in a peaceful and safe state then that person is destined for a favorable rebirth (Rumun, 2014). To them, a corpse possesses spirit and for that reason, they are not open to organ donation. Such beliefs lead to respect for the dead in the society. Buddhists view in human history is that creation is cyclical hence, dead members are set for rebirths. Since Buddhists are caught up in the constant circle of rebirths, human history has little meaning to them. For healthcare workers, in order to handle such patients, they must observe and respect their beliefs in death and perspective on human history. In addition, some members of the Buddha religion are strictly vegetarians (Rumun, 2014). They are prohibited from consuming any meat or animal products by their religious beliefs and practices. During medical care, these members refuse medications that are produced using animal products or by-products. Their action is in accordance with their religion beliefs. Such practices have an adverse impact on their health conditions. Of great importance and common to both religions is the fact that healing is in the hands of a supernatural power. Moreover, on the death, the believers of both religions deserve a peaceful send off to the spirit world. Additionally, patients from both religions prefer to be cared for by health workers of belonging to their religions. However, if they had to be treated with people from different faiths, it is important to the patients that the healthcare providers understand and respect their beliefs. Conclusion Evidently, the two religions have varying beliefs when it comes to the provision of health services by doctors. Both the Christian and Buddha community have contrasting ideas and practices for the delivery of health services. The nurses and physicians have the responsibility to learn and understand these ideas in order to treat and care for the patients’ needs appropriately. With relevant and sufficient knowledge of the two religious practices and beliefs, the medical sector is able to provide satisfactory services to their clients. During research on this topic, I gathered that it is important for practitioners to recognize that patients prefer to be cared for by people with their religious background who fully understand and appreciate their practices. References Arritt, T. (2014). Caring for Patients of Different Religions. Nursing Centre, 12(6), 38-45. Retrieved 16 Mar. 15 from http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/CEArticle?an=00152258-201411000-00008 Kozak, A. (2010). The everything Buddhism book: A complete Introduction to the History, Traditions, and Beliefs of Buddhism, Past, and Present. (1 Ed.). 57 Littlefield Street, Avon: Everything Books. Molewyk, M., Groenhout, R., Hotz, K., & Brandsen, C. (2005). Transforming care: A Christian vision of nursing practice. Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. Rumun, A. (2014). Influence of religious beliefs on healthcare practice. International Journal of Education and Research, 2(4), 37-48. Retrieved 16 Mar. 15 from http://www.ijern.com/journal/April-2014/05.pdf Shelly, A., & Miller, J. (2006). Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing. IVP Academic Press. The Holy Bible: King James Version. Dallas, TX: Brown Books Publishing. Read More