Healthcare Provider and
Faith Diversity

Melissa Kniss

Grand Canyon University

Spirituality in Healthcare

HLT-310V

Dr. Dennis Jones

June 28, 2015

Abstract

Healthcare providers care for a
diverse population of patients with different cultures and beliefs. It is
crucial that all healthcare providers are educated on these different cultures and
beliefs in order to provide our patients the best care available. Being
culturally sensitive is very important to patient’s care and recovery process.
Throughout this paper I will be providing the analysis of the Christian faith
philosophy and the Sikh philosophy towards providing health care.

Healthcare Provider and Faith Diversity

Christianity is the world’s
largest religion with approximately 2.5 billion followers. The teaching of is
based on Jesus Christ who lived in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago (BBC, 2014) The Christian religion uses the
Holy Bible to guide their decisions and faith. In the book of Genesis 1 it
states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. God is the
creator of everything that exists in this world. In
Colossians 1:13-18 it states, “Christ is supreme. Christ is the visible image
of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme
over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly
realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and cant see. He
existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is
also the head of the church and the body” (Holy Bible NIV p.902). God is the
highest power of all and has created everything.

Jesus shows his
people mercy and is here to protect us from evil and care for us when in need.
The nature of this world isn’t always so caring or nurturing to those in need.
In Luke 10:30-35 it states, “ A Jewish man who was traveling from Jerusalem was
attacked by bandits. These bandits beat him up, stripped him of his clothes,
and left him on the side of the road half dead. A priest came along and yet
walked on the other side of this man and left him. A temple assistant came
along walked over, looked at him and yet left him. Then a despised Samaritan
came over, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to
him the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil, wine, and bandaged him. He
put the man on his own donkey and took him to the inn where he took care of
him. Jesus explains love thy neighbor as yourself (Holy Bible, NIV 2006.)

In the
Christian religion and faith a human being is referred as the highest of God’s
creation. Humans are created in the likeness or the image of God. In Genesis
1:26 it states, “God said, let us make human beings in our image, to be like
us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the
livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry
along the ground. So, God created human beings in his own image, male and
female (Holy Bible, NIV 2006). Those who give their lives to the Lord and
repent will have eternal life with God. John 3:16″For God so
loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (Holy Bible, NIV, 2006).

The Bible is
God’s word and the source of knowledge for the Christian faith and belief.
Throughout God’s word it is explained what is right and wrong and what choices
God would choose. God wants his people to choose the decision he would make and
live the life God would have us live rather than living in the way of the world
or the devil. Understanding God’s word guides ones life in the right direction
and helps one choose the right from the wrong.

In the
Christian religion physicians are welcomed with open arms. Yes people do pray
to God for their healing and recovery although at times it is necessary to see
a physician as well. Healthcare providers are here to help God with his work.
God gives these people wisdom to help his people who are ill with sickness or
disease. Matthew 9:12 states, “When he heard it, he said, Those who are well
have no need of a physician, but those who are sick (Holy Bible, NIV, 2006).
Prayer and having a relationship with God is very important although when
needed it is also important to seek medical treatment as well. God works
through others to perform miracles as well, andshows compassion for all the
infirmities of the body; He uses His miraculous power to heal the sick, to free
the possessed, to resuscitate the dead (Christianity/Jesus Christ, 2012).

The Sikh faith
is the fifth largest in the world and has more than 22 million followers in