Christian and Shinto Healthcare Philosophies Compared

Introduction

Every culture has its own worldview, and its own approach to the health of its people. The Christian philosophy of healthcare is quite different from the approach that believers in the Shinto faith take. This paper examines the worldviews of each of these faiths, drawing on available literature to explore those worldviews and the contrasts between them. In doing so, it also addresses seven foundational worldview questions: What is prime reality? What is the nature of the world around us? What is a human being? What happens at death? Why is it possible to know anything at all? How do we know right from wrong? And what is the meaning of human history?

Christian Worldview and Healthcare Philosophy

In Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing, the authors point to two different fields of study and how each approaches the concept of worldview. Philosophers see worldview as a "series of assumptions that underlie a system of thought," while anthropologists take a broader perspective, describing worldviews as the "wellsprings of our thinking" — frameworks that shape and integrate fields such as theology and anthropology, and that ultimately define "everyday behavior" (Shelly et al., 2009). Put simply, worldview is part of every individual's cultural experience, helping each person understand how the world actually works.

The worldview of the modern Western world is often referred to as "dualism," which encompasses the concept that good and evil are constantly "locked in eternal conflict," according to anthropologist Paul Hiebert, as quoted by Shelly (2009, p. 35). From the perspective of the Christian believer, the biblical teaching holds that human life has its source of power in God, and that humans are placed on earth with "the capacity to relate to God in a personal way." That relationship is made possible through Jesus Christ, God's son and the Savior of humankind. For day-to-day living, Christians have a healer in the Holy Spirit. These three — God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit — form the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

The postmodern approach to worldview, Shelly (2009, p. 37) continues, holds that as important as science is, it cannot give humans all the meaning they need to thrive in society. There needs to be a more "holistic view that brings humans into harmony with their environment." In this context, the nursing worldview of Joyce Fitzpatrick is particularly relevant.

According to Fitzpatrick, human development works through "rhythms that occur within the context of continuous person-environment interaction" (Fitzpatrick, 2011). In other words, nurses learn the best methods for caregiving by working with humans, understanding them, communicating honestly, and interacting with each patient while recognizing that every individual embodies "unique biological, psychological, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual attitudes" (Fitzpatrick, 2011, p. 2). Optimum health, in Fitzpatrick's model, is the "actualization of both innate and obtained human potential," realized through "relationships with others, goal-directed behavior, and expert personal care" (Fitzpatrick, 2011, p. 2).

When Fitzpatrick uses the term "rhythms," she alludes to the promotion of wellness practiced in nursing — the way nurses apply the concept of metaparadigm when approaching each patient. Her framework comprises four parts: (a) a person; (b) that person's health; (c) the environment in which the person exists; and (d) nursing, meaning all the specific skills a professional nurse must acquire and continually refine.

Seven Worldview Questions from a Christian Perspective

According to the Christian tradition, prime reality should be understood as God and the cosmos. Because God is of the highest importance to human existence, He is considered primary. In the book of Luke (Chapter 21:33), the Lord states: "Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away." Similarly, Colossians 1:18 reads: "And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have preeminence."

We perceive the world through the lens of our own culture and human experiences — in other words, through our worldview. The presence of ongoing violence and cruelty in the world does not, and should not, cause us to view the world as fundamentally corrupt and dark. All people, whether fortunate or unfortunate, seek the same things: love, peace, meaningful relationships, and a place to call home.

Humans are biological specimens who face great complexity, since good and evil are always present as choices in human life. Biologist Paul Ehrlich argues that human differences are a product of "cultural evolution," which in turn rests on "the foundation of genetic evolution," with cultural evolution referencing "the influence of massive transformations in the body" — something healthcare and nursing understand as human frailty (Fuller, 2011). People do not come "preassembled, but are glued together by life" (Fuller, 2011), and it is the role of healthcare professionals to help mend and heal the body when that bond comes undone.

According to most Christian theological approaches, at death a person will go either to heaven or to hell, depending on the morality and humanity that person exhibited during his or her lifetime. Roman Catholics believe a person first enters purgatory before the transition to heaven or hell. Hindus hold that people are reincarnated. Regardless of a patient's beliefs about the afterlife, a nurse must remain open-minded and respectful when providing care.

This question is addressed philosophically by S. R. Griffiths, who argues that even though humans have been gifted with cognitive skills — the ability to think and learn — if a person holds strong beliefs but does not pursue knowledge to enhance his or her existence, "in the broadest sense we cannot know anything" (Griffiths, 2012). The reason is that "we are locked within our own minds and ambiguous language" (Griffiths, 2012). Humans need not know everything, but they must acquire the key knowledge that links them to society and family. For nurses, this means a commitment to continuous learning in order to carry out their healthcare duties effectively.

If we lead moral lives based on fairness and empathy, we demonstrate that we need not rely solely on religious or scientific dogma to guide our conduct. Learning right from wrong comes from family, community, and the culture in which each of us lives. Children raised by caring, thoughtful parents learn respectful ways of interacting with others as a matter of course.

The Christian nurse understands that humans are on earth according to God's plan — that God expects humans to "glorify" Him and "enjoy Him forever" (Isenhoff, 2016). Christians understand the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a symbol of humanity's ability to overcome death, which is associated with sin, since the ultimate consequence of sin is death. This gives Christians hope and removes the fear of death for those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, who died on the cross and rose on the third day. By contrast, some religious traditions hold that moral norms are shaped by divine decree rather than universal ethical principles (Isenhoff, 2016).

Conclusion

Knowing the beliefs of others is vital in serving them as patients, but the nurse does not have to personally adopt the dogma of patients' religious views. What matters is that nursing professionals remain open-minded, respectful, and informed about the spiritual and cultural frameworks that shape their patients' experiences of illness and healing.

This examination of Christian and Shinto worldviews reinforces the importance of cultural and religious literacy in nursing practice. The two traditions differ significantly in their understanding of prime reality, human nature, illness, and the afterlife — yet both call nurses to approach patients with sensitivity and genuine respect for perspectives different from their own. A worldview that is fair and open-minded is not merely a personal virtue; it is a professional necessity for anyone working in healthcare.

References

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Fitzpatrick, J. (2011). Life perspective rhythm model by Joyce Fitzpatrick. Nursing Theories. Retrieved September 18, 2016, from http://nursingplanet.com.

Fuller Studio. (2011). What are human beings? Perspectives from science and scripture. Retrieved September 18, 2016, from

Griffiths, S. R. (2012). How can I know anything at all? Philosophy Now. Retrieved September 18, 2016, from https://philosophynow.org.

Isenhoff, M. (2016). Worldview question #7: What is the meaning of human history? Retrieved September 18, 2016, from

Kalland, A. (2010). Facing the spirits: Illness and healing in a Japanese community. Folklore. Retrieved September 18, 2016, from http://www.folklore.ee.

Shelly, J. A. (2009). Called to care: A Christian worldview for nursing. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

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Waxler-Morrison, N., Anderson, J. M., and Richardson, E. (1990). Cross-cultural caring: A handbook for health professionals in western Canada. Vancouver, BC: UBC Press.

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