In order to promote holistic healing, nurses and healthcare professionals in the infirmary must engage with individuals of different religions and faiths. This article explores the writer's Christian perspective on spiritual healing in Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism. It emphasizes the importance of embracing cultural and religious diversity within healthcare settings to foster holistic healing.
Spirituality, a complex aspect of human existence, is challenging to comprehend. It is embraced by individuals in various ways, influenced by their values and personal encounters. The multifaceted nature of spirituality is supported by evidence of its positive impact on healthcare and the process of healing. Personal religious experiences and beliefs are derived from one's familial connections.
The subject of this paper is the individual and their religious experiences (Anandarajah & Hight, 2001). The aim of this study
...is to acknowledge the author's personal spirituality in relation to healing and its significant components. First, I will discuss my perspective and approach to healing from a Christian standpoint, and then from a Buddhist standpoint.
The text below compares Hindu and Muslim faiths to the Christian approach to healing. The author will summarize their findings on these faiths and concepts in relation to their own healthcare practices. The author's perspective on healing is influenced by their religious beliefs and reliance on God. They recognize the delicate balance required when seeking wellness advice in the face of illness.
In her religious beliefs, she sees God as the ultimate healer for all illnesses. The Bible offers convincing proof that God functions as the ultimate healer and doubts in religion can impede this healing process. An illustration of this is evident in the narrative of Asa, who endured a diseas
in his leg.
According to the Bible, a woman who was seriously ill did not seek God for healing but instead relied on doctors. Sadly, she eventually succumbed to her illness (Second Chronicles 16:12 NIV). The author firmly believes in the power of prayer and urges others to pray either individually or as a collective. All Christians have faith in the Holy Spirit residing within them. As stated in Romans 8:26-27 NIV, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to God's will, making it crucial for us to also pray for each other.
According to First Samuel 12:23 (NIV), Christians firmly believe that it is God's will for anyone to be healed at any time. The verse states, "It is out of the question for me to disobey the Lord by failing to pray for you."
During his time on Earth, Jesus showed numerous healings, providing evidence of his divine nature as the Son of God. According to Matthew 9:35 (NIV), Jesus successfully healed different diseases and illnesses. In Matthew 8:8 (NIV), Jesus spoke and healed an individual, while in Mark 5:28 (NIV), a woman was instantly cured from her hemorrhage by touching Jesus' cloak. This demonstrates that God employs various approaches to restore people's well-being.
Many Christians believe that believers are instructed to pray for God's healing, but there is no guarantee on how it will manifest or what the outcome will be. Therefore, individuals still seek medical treatment from doctors, but it is often advised to combine this with prayers.
Christians believe in God's sovereignty and trust that He controls all circumstances. The church community offers support through prayer, functioning as a family and providing healing resources. The
Bible is considered the word of God, offering encouragement and understanding through His teachings. In contrast, Buddhists approach healing by studying medicine, as Buddha did in his youth, gaining knowledge on different types and methods of healing diseases.
Even though Bhikshu and Christians have different beliefs regarding life after death, reincarnation, aging, and illness, Bhikshu's comprehension of these ideas has motivated him to offer guidance and education to people about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Christians and Buddhists hold contrasting views on the existence of a soul. Christians firmly believe that every person possesses a soul, whereas Buddhists do not share this conviction. The teachings of Buddha primarily revolve around offering practical guidance for managing physical and mental anguish. Conversely, Christians build their faith upon God's divine plan and display benevolence towards others. Buddhists place great importance on the notion of cause and effect within their belief system, while Christians have unwavering trust in Jesus' capacity to provide healing. Notwithstanding these disparities, both religions approach wellness and healing from a religious standpoint.
The beliefs of Christianity and Buddhism concerning wellness and healing are comparable, although they differ in their ultimate objectives. Buddhists embrace spirituality by developing a compassionate mindset towards those experiencing illness. Conversely, Christians place their trust in God's mercy for healing and accepting His will. Both faiths have religious leaders, such as Bhikshus in Buddhism and clergy in Christianity, who can be invited to offer aid. Buddhists engage in chanting during prayer, while Christians encourage families to partake in prayer together to achieve their shared goal.
Both Buddhism and Christianity have a shared objective of alleviating suffering for their followers. They achieve this by abstaining from medication, enabling
individuals to maintain clarity of mind. Buddhism emphasizes the advantages of peace and quietness for meditation purposes (Ehman, 2007). Both religions do not instill fear of death; however, in Buddhism, the rituals conducted on the body before and after death hold significant significance for its next life cycle. Conversely, Christianity centers around the belief that the soul ascends to heaven upon death, leaving behind only the physical body.
Comparing a Muslim Approach to Healing
The Qur'an, along with the prophet Muhammad, is comparable to the Christian Bible and Jesus. Both texts advocate for the use of reason in all aspects of human life, including healing practices. Muslims and Christians both believe that neither Allah nor God created diseases. Muslims are confident that Allah created treatments for illnesses and they also believe in the power of prayer and invocation.
The recitation of the Qur’an and acceptance of Allah are crucial in the healing process, while also acknowledging the significance of modern medicine. This belief is similar to how Christians believe in accepting God and the effectiveness of prayers in the healing process (Yousif, n.d.).
d. The Muslim belief is that diseases can be a form of knowledge through which humans gain personal experience with Allah. Both Christianity and Islam (Muslim) acknowledge that life and death are determined by God and are beyond human control.
(Yousif. n. d.) Both faiths emphasize the significance of supplications. However, in the Muslim religion, there is a strict requirement to observe the appropriate posture and location while offering supplications. For a Muslim patient, being unable to engage in their daily supplications can cause distress.
When this occurs, it is important to inform
their clergy promptly. Muslim individuals tend to have a higher pain tolerance due to the cultural belief that complaining is a sign of weakness. Additionally, Muslims have more stringent dietary and hygiene requirements based on their religious beliefs compared to many Christians. The majority of Muslims follow vegetarian diets and believe that running water is essential for complete cleansing.
Both Christians and Muslims value the importance of the household, but there are differences in certain practices. For example, when a person in the household passes away, it is customary for Christians to whisper a declaration of their religion to the dead, while Muslims also follow this practice. Additionally, fasting is not compulsory for Christians at any specific time, whereas for Muslims it is mandatory during the Ramadan period (Ehman, 2007).
Comparing a Hindu Approach to Healing: Hinduism is a highly intricate belief system, encompassing not only religion but a way of life, similar to Christianity. Derived from the word "India," Hinduism comprises numerous spiritual practices and perspectives that have existed in India for over a thousand years. Hinduism promotes the worship of multiple deities, emphasizes reincarnation, and values the ancient tradition of meditation. Additionally, Hindu healers regard the importance of familial bonds and the power of prayer in the healing process.
Christians submit to God's will, while Karma in Hinduism holds individuals accountable for their actions (Sukumaran, n.d.).
Modesty is expected from the opposite sex attention giver. Their diet consists of vegetarian food and they frequently observe fasts. Hindus have a great respect for medical professionals, although many are cautious when it comes to drugs and pills.
If medication is administered, it aims to clarify its purpose and impact. In
most cases, natural and homeopathic medicine is favored over medication and surgery.
Conclusion
Religious diversity in American hospitals is now more prominent than ever before.
This writer acknowledges the similarities and differences between Christianity and the Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu religions in terms of their beliefs on healing and prayer.
Clergy, household, and contemplation appear to be common aspects across all these religions. Furthermore, the position of the organic structure and decease is important.
There are noticeable differences in people's attitudes towards work and life rhythms. As a health professional, this author became aware of the importance of creating peaceful environments for thinking and reflecting, as well as encouraging family participation for all patients.
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