Relationship between Faith and Health - Term Paper Example

Section/# Faith and Health Care One particular aspect of the current world is with respect to the fact thatit is increasingly diverse. The extent to which globalization has taken place over the past several years has indicated a situation in which a mixture of races, ethnicities, and worldviews have come in contact with others that they might not necessarily have ever met. As a direct result of this, the healthcare profession is facing difficulty with regard to how to integrate an understanding of the provision of healthcare and its ultimate goals with individuals that have diverse religious beliefs that steam and generate different components of life. For years, the healthcare profession in the United States was ultimately predicated upon an understanding that almost each and every patient that they would come in contact with would necessarily be of a Christian background war faith. However, in recent years, a deluge of immigration and demographic changes around the globe have elicited a situation in which such an expectation can no longer be relied upon. Instead, the healthcare provider must be thoroughly aware of the fact that a variety of different worldviews, religious beliefs, and approaches necessarily exist within the environment and could be reflected during the course of any normal day. Because of this, the following analysis will seek to engage the reader in a further understanding of how three distinct and rather unknown faiths engage with the issue of healthcare. Such an analysis will hopefully be beneficial in providing an overview of how the healthcare provider can seek to address key needs and issues to individuals that do not ascribe to major worldviews and religious beliefs. In terms of Buddhism and the provision of care, it should be understood that this particular religion is the one that perhaps most closely mirrors Christianity; at least with respect to the application and focus on the Golden Rule and the need to not harm another individual. By means of contrast and comparison to the Christian faith, Buddhism necessarily places a high level of focus on the importance of respect towards Buddha and his teaching; as compared to the Christian belief that Christ served as the exemplification of how they should be understood and represented (Wei-Chen, 2010). Likewise, in comparison to the other religions that have been analyzed within this particular analysis, Buddhism necessarily places an additional level of focus on the importance of personal mindset and the need to justify one’s own life and existence with the outside universe. Such a level of focus would necessarily consider the impact that any healthcare choice could potentially have upon others and would choose a noble path based upon such determinants. Essentially, the healthcare provider that regularly engages with individuals of a Buddhist background should be mindful of the fact that the conclusion and finality of death is even less within this particular religion; as compared to the other religions that are more common, as well as the ones that have been analyzed within this brief analysis. The underlying reason for this is contingent upon the fact that Buddhists ultimately believe that life does not cease to exist; rather, it merely changes forms and marks an individual’s progress from one stage of existence to another. Within such an understanding, it is easy to recognize the fact that an individual of the Buddhist faith might not necessarily react to death and dying in such a demonstrative way as compared to some of the other major world religions. Similarly, a key understanding that must be represented with respect to another lesser known and what can ultimately be considered as a minor world religion is with respect to Shintoism. This particular belief system is one that is significantly different from many of the other major belief systems that have a higher degree of overall visibility. For instance, a fundamental and overarching contingent of Shintoism is that the individual should place a profound level of respect towards their ancestors and those that have preceded them; specifically with regard to the family and those they are otherwise related to (Nakao & Ohara, 2014). Within such a dynamic understanding, it should be fundamentally understood by the healthcare provider that individuals of a Shinto belief system will necessarily defer many decisions to elders within the family and not seek to take such an active role in the administration of their own health care. However, this is somewhat of a broad generalizations and one that cannot effectively be understood to be the case in each and every situation. Instead, a further and even broader understanding is that an individual of a Shinto belief system or background will invariably consider the advice and counsel of elders within their own family in terms of what should be done; rather than simply seeking to make each and every healthcare decision of their own volition. The last of non-mainstream religion that will be analyzed within this brief discussion is with respect to many of the Native American belief systems that are represented throughout North America. Although a significant decline in belief within these traditional religions has been noted over the decades, they are still nonetheless relevant and play an important part of defining the culture and healthcare approach that many individuals from a Native American ethnic background might necessarily engage. Within this dynamic, it is necessary for the healthcare provider to be intimately aware of the fact that oneness with nature and a singularity with the universe is a prized aspect of how almost all of these Native American traditions and religions define the world around them. Within such a dynamic, it would not be unlikely for an individual that espouses this particular belief system to disavow 21st century medicine and seek to treat whatever illness or reality that they may have in terms of a natural approach to my: or one that is been utilized by the people for a series of centuries. Whereas this is not always the case, the healthcare provider should be aware of this fact and should be willing and able to counsel the individual based upon the drawbacks and potential harm that such an approach could otherwise provide. Although this religion may appear as if it is somewhat dissimilar to the other religions that have been discussed, or indeed to the major religions that have been exhibited around the world of the past several millennia, a key similarity with regards Native American belief systems and other world religions is with regard to the emphasis on prayer and the importance of ancestors and tradition (Blankenau et al., 2010). This similarity necessarily provides an easy level of comparison with respect to Shintoism and the Buddhist faith. The underlying importance of the healthcare provider being aware of these distinct differentials, some of which have been discussed within this brief paper, has to do with the understanding that individuals approach healthcare from a non-universal standpoint. Whereas it is true that issues relating to race, gender, age, and other factors impact upon the decisions and worldview that an individual patient may have, it has proven time and time again true that religious belief, faith, and cultural understanding serve as the more powerful determinant of the decisions an individual will make with respect to their own health care; or the healthcare outlook. With this in mind, it is absolutely integral for the healthcare provider to be aware of these nuances, speak to them, and effectively engage the patient based upon a framework of understanding that they are both familiar and comfortable with. By seeking to do this and promoting further healthcare understanding, the provider will more effectively be able to fulfill his or her role within the system. References Blankenau, J., Comer, J., Nitzke, J., & Stabler, W. (2010). The Role of Tribal Experiences in Shaping Native American Health. Social Work In Public Health, 25(5), 423-437. doi:10.1080/19371918.2010.498699 Nakao, M., & Ohara, C. (2014). The Perspective of Psychosomatic Medicine on the Effect of Religion on the Mind-Body Relationship in Japan. Journal Of Religion & Health, 53(1), 46-55. doi:10.1007/s10943-012-9586-9 Wei-Chen, T. (2010). Buddhist-Based Care: Implications for Health Care Professionals. Home Health Care Management & Practice,22(6), 450-452. doi:10.1177/1084822310370835 Read More