Health Care Provider 2

Running head: HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY 1

Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity

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HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY 2

Abstract

Health and healing procedures are highly regulated by religious belief about the will of

God in people’s lives. Christianity and Islam agree with the fact that life is important and there is

a need to pray, meditate and believe in order to get Gods healing. It is thus fundament for

medical officers to understand how Christian or Islam belief affect them when they are ill and the

ultimate procedure to accord them the best healing services. Diversity and interactions have

brought different religions together which triggers the need for healthcare providers to be well

knowledgeable about the beliefs of people they are attending with regard to their religious

teachings.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY 3

Introduction

Ideally, Christianity and Islam portray diverse opinions yet they also have common

aspect about life and rewards in heaven for those who follow the religious guideline to the latter

after they die. Christianity and Islam value the concept of life as it is found in the Bible and

Quran. Healthcare is a very crucial part in both religions where pain, suffering, diet and death are

viewed differently. Health is viewed as the absence of disease and any symptoms associated with

illness. It regulates how health care providers handle the diversification of life based on the fact

that human beings are highly mobile and could be found in any part of the world. There is great

connectedness between health care and socialization where facilitator interacts with

distinguished people who have different religious orientations whose diversity on faith should be

well understood in order to accord them the ultimate medical attention.

Islam

Islam is navigated by the total submission to Allah as the only God and Muhammad his

prophet. The religion is guided by the five main pillars of Islam which include, submission to

Allah, fasting, prayers, giving offering and pilgrimage to Mecca the holy city, (Kamaruzaman,

2009). Muhammad’s teachings are very influential in the wellbeing of Muslim whole are

expected to adhere to them. This religion encourages brotherhood known as umma which should

be portrayed by all believers irrespective of their profession. It encourages caring and being at

peace with Allah and colleague human beings

Spiritual perspective of healing

Spirituality in Islam cannot be eliminated from the healing process. The religion

encourages the holistic of living that shows the integration of life where there should be the well-

being of the mind and the body. Muslim challenges their diseases as challenges and test intend to

HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY 4

add value to their lives spiritual and should strengthen their relationship with Allah. In the Quran

Muslims should be tried to evaluate their disease, (Meier et al, 2005)as the body is a spiritual

reflection of the body 2006). Islam views disease from two angles, soul illness and physical

suffering where the soul is treated with connection with God. The religion encourages

moderation for the needs of the body and soul in order for one to be considered health.

Islamic components of healing

To cope with illnesses, Muslims believe in God’s power and his perfection in justice.

Every human being should assume responsibility for the mistakes and misfortunes. They can

conform themselves through supplication, divine remembrances and recite the Quran. By

surrendering to Allah, Muslims are assured of their health. Prayer meditation and faith are

therefore important components of healing. In one of Prophet Muhammad’s stories referred as

the Hadiths, he explains that the body has a right over a person. Meditation is fundamental for

healing, no doubt about that. Muslims are encouraged by the Quran 2:186 to focus on God when

they are in need, God will respond to them should the call on him, Quran 40:60.

Importance to believers

Believers are relieved from pain and internal conflict caused by illness, this makes

Muslims consider health as a very basic human right which should be protected and valued at

whatever cost. Muslims are entitled to total physical wellness, social health, and mental well-

being in order to maintain the quality of life that one should enjoy. He taught health

consciousness is equivalent to God-consciousness where all people especially medical

practitioners should be well knowledgeable (Rodwell, 2004). The Quran is viewed as a healer

and an act of mercy to those who believe, (Quran 17:82). The Islam law, therefore, prohibits

suicide and any act of ending life as a result of suffering caused by diseases where they should be

HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY 5

buried once God decides their destiny and death, (Sarhill et al 2001). According to Islam, life

belongs to God and is a sacred concept that is important to all.

Christianity

Christianity is based on the teaching of Jesus Christ who is viewed as the son of God

where beliefs are guided by the Bible to adhere to the will of God with a close imitation of Jesus

teachings on how to relate with fellow humans and God in order to win eternal life. Christians

acknowledge the fact that their bodies will return to the soil. Those who were obedient to Gods

teachings will go to heaven as the rest will face suffering in hell. When one dies during the

healing process, then it is perceived by a believer that the will of God has taken part in the

deceased’s life.

Spiritual perspective on healing

Christianity’s health is regulated by the suffering of Christ on the cross where people

should have a positive attitude to illness which may cause pain, suffering and thereafter death.

This is a spiritual concept. It is guided by the bible teachings where the spirit is believed to have

a healing effect on the body which conquers the physical suffering of the body, (Koss & Hefner,

2006). . Spiritual healing is encouraged through prayer and believing in God.

Critical components of healing

Jesus, performed numerous healing miracles to the sick, blind people and the lame out of

empathy, (Matthew 25:31-46). In most cases he prayed and portrayed a lot of faith to God in the

process of healing. It is, therefore, clear those prayers and faith work as important components in

the process of healing where subjects should be convinced that healing will be attained or other

people who may be suffering. Empathy and sympathy escalate the urge to accord the sick

immediate help and help them recover. It was out of Jesus’ value for life and compassion that he

HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY 6

healed the sick. This should be portrayed by those who interact with the sick like family

members and medical facilitator. Jesus led as a perfect epitome by visiting the sick, praying for

their well-being, he discouraged stigmatization and valued their lives more than the Sabbath

since he values life. This should be imitated by health practitioners since it affirms that life is

valuable.

Christians mediate by coming closer to God through the bible, eliminating anxieties and

being assured of good results from God. This could be done by singing the psalms and other

songs that bringing them closer to God, (psalms 27:7). Christian’s meditation is exhibited when

they are in a private place and focused on receiving aid from God, Well, there is power in belief

for those claiming healing in both Christianity and Islam where God is viewed as a healer and

value life.

Important to Christian believers

The healing of the sick helps Christians to strengthen their faith in God. It relieves them

from pain and ensures that they will be loyal to God in their daily practices. Spiritual healing has

encouraged the medical community to consider involving prayers and beliefs in God as this has

influences their healing.

Comparison

Both Christianity and Islam believe in the power of prayer and meditation in healing. The

sick should take their time to focus on God and his will in their lives. During the prayers, they

should believe that god has the power to liberate them from any form of suffering. Prayers and

believes escalate spiritual health which is reflected in the well-being of the body. Both religions

believe that God is good and is, therefore, capable of giving them good things they ask from him

in prayers and faith.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY 7

Both religions agree on the fact that life is important and should be supported in both

religions when medication fails, people might lose their lives and die. Life is owned by God and

should be considered sacred. Medical practitioners are therefore encouraged by the religious

teaching of both religion to consider the fact that healing comes from God hence trusting on the

professionalism of doctors only may not do any good to the sick as God owns life and he is

powerful to make decisions on one's life.

Death becomes a common denominator in the healing sphere for both Christians and

Islam and should happen at God’s own time. Death should be taken positively as it is the only

way that people return to their make for judgment and reward. If people die during their sickness

period, both religions believe that God is good and does not give room for evil and they should

still persist is submitting to him. He is seen as the owner of life and can take it for the better of

those who are suffering at his pleasure

There is a need to be spiritual health and in terms with the Supreme Being in the process

of healing the physical body. Suffering has been portrayed as a measure to evaluate the strength

of faith in both religions when people are suffering. It is true in both religions that people’s

action is able to make them sick. For them to be healthy, they should adhere to the religious

books in evaluating what is good from what is bad as spoiling their body is against God’s will.

Finally, both religions agree on the fact that sickness may come their way to evaluate their faith

and trust in God. However, it affirms God’s faithfulness and reliance when people regain their

health status.

Conclusion

Diversity has taken the cause of the world due to technological advancement. There is a

need for health organizations and practitioners to have a diversity of religious opinions prior to

HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY 8

their service provision as the disease is mostly influenced by what people believe in. Healing has

a great connectedness with a person’s religious beliefs and practices with respect to how they can

be healed. However, there is a need for dialogue and understanding on how medical operators

should handle different age groups and gender with relation to their moral teachings for ultimate

healing. The dialogue should aim at integrating religion, law and ethics that affect medicine. In

other words, religious freedom for patients should be respected by the moral autonomy of

diverse caregivers and the integrity of healing professionals. To do this, the professionals should

seek to understand ethical requirements of the patients at hand. It is also prudent for parish

doctors to have a common facility where they offer their treatment services that should be geared

up to the need for caring and spiritual well-being as religion influences all aspects of life.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY 9

Reference

Sarhill, N., LeGrand, S., Islambouli, R., Davis, M. P., & Walsh, D. (2001). The

terminally ill Muslim: death and dying from the Muslim

perspective.American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 18(4),

251-255.

Kamaruzaman, K. O. (2009). Understanding Islam: contemporary discourse. Saba Islamic

Media.

Koss-Chioino, J., & Hefner, P. J. (2006). Spiritual transformation and healing: Anthropological,

theological, neuroscientific, and clinical perspectives. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press.

Meier, A., O'Connor, T. S. J., & VanKatwyk, P. L. (2005). Spirituality and health:

Multidisciplinary explorations. Waterloo, Ont: Wilfred Laurier University Press.

Rodwell, J. M. (2004). The Koran. New York: Bantam Dell.

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