Healthcare and Diversity of Faiths the Objective

Healthcare and Diversity of Faiths

The objective of this study is to research three diverse faiths and to compare the philosophy of providing health care from the perspective of these three faiths with that of the Christian perspective and the writer's own personal perspective. For the purpose of the study the three faiths chosen are the Native American faith, Buddhism, and Shintoism.

Native American Faith

The Native American faith view on medicine is that healing is more person than disease-centered. It is reported that traditional healers have the objective of "making whole restoring well-being and harmonious relationships with the community and the spirit of nature, which is sometimes called God or the Great Mystery. Native American healing is based on the belief that everyone and everything on earth is interconnected, and every person, animal, and plant has a spirit or essence. Even an object, such as a river or rock, and even the earth itself, may be considered to have this kind of spirit" (American Cancer Society, 2014, p. 1) The belief of Native Americans is traditionally such that "illness stems from spiritual problems. They also say that diseases are more likely to invade the body of a person who is imbalanced, has negative thinking, or lives an unhealthy lifestyle. Some Native American healers believe that inherited conditions, such as birth defects, are caused by the parents' immoral lifestyles and are not easily treated. Others believe that such conditions reflect a touch from the Creator and may consider them a kind of gift. Native American healing practices aim to find and restore balance and wholeness in a person to restore one to a healthy and spiritually pure state." (American Cancer Society, 2014, p. 1) It is reported that healing in the Native American faith includes "herbal remedies, purifying rituals, shamanism, and symbolic healing rituals to treat illnesses of both the body and spirit." (American Cancer Society, 2014, p.1) Physical conditions are treated by herbal remedies and purifying rituals are reported to be used for cleansing the body and for preparation for healing. Shamanism is reported to be based on the idea that illness is caused by spirits. Native American healers are called Shamans and their focus is on the use of spiritual powers for healing. Also reported as healing techniques used are sweat lodges reported to be "special, darkened enclosures with heated with stones from a fire." (American Cancer Society, 2014, p.1 ) As well special teas may be used that cause the individual who is sick to vomit. Another practice used is that referred to as smudging reported to involve "cleansing a place or person with the smoke of sacred plants, can be used to bring about an altered state of consciousness and sensitivity, making a person more open to the healing techniques. Because some illnesses are believed to come from angry spirits, healers may also invoke the healing powers of spirits. They may also use special rituals to try to appease the angered spirits." This quotation relates to certain facets of Christianity that are somewhat similar to Native American religion. Although it is understood that the latter has no express interest in the person of Jesus Christ, the conception of the trinity, or in Christ's passion, the notion of involving the healing power of spirits that the aforementioned passage references does have a parallel in Christianity. The key distinction, of course, is that there is only one spirit -- that of God, which may be expressed via the