3 Comments

1. 

   slinkies on 2010/06/24 at 17:47

   I was baptized Lutheran, but consider myself agnostic/atheist … I don’t know if this will help, but I’ll answer your questions:

   Is your spirituality expressed through your religious practices? If so, how?
   -Yes, I do not go to church or pray, but I am patient with others and make it a point not mock them for their beliefs or be overtly offensive to their beliefs

   How do your spirituality and/or religious beliefs impact your day-to-day choices about how you live your life?
   – I try to uphold a high moral standard and be a happy, healthy person for people to be around … I hope to make a difference & show others that believing in a supernatural being or higher power is not required for someone to be a good person

   If you were in the hospital receiving nursing care, how might a nurse help you spiritually?
   – He/She could help by not assuming I am religious, particularly by assuming I am Christian … this puts a pressure on me to accept someone else’s beliefs at a time when I need peace, when i need to steady my mind – surgery and illness are difficult times – a lot of energy goes into trying to not break-down in front of those I care about … to add trying not to offend someone else’s beliefs just requires more energy … and what if I were Jewish or Buddhist and the nurse starts talking about Jesus? The best they can do is find out my beliefs and the beliefs of those close to me … then they can pray with them or find the appropriate clergy for them … and please, with everything already on plate if I am hospitalized, I am under enough stress, don’t try to convert me … 🙂

2. 

   Feisty on 2010/06/24 at 17:47

   I couldn’t have said it better than Slinkies! Kudos for the answers!

   To add to it, I don’t see a need for a brick and mortar structure to be a moral person. I don’t have religious practices other than to try and live a life that helps rather than hurts others. I do cringe when I hear the phrase "Christian morals" because it implies that if you don’t follow their specific creed (and that even varies between sects) than it’s impossible to live a moral life.

3. 

   Matt's Saints on 2010/06/30 at 18:55

   Humility is the groundstone when writing things! Peace to everyone!