Ethical and spiritual response 2

please respond to the discussions with reference

Discussion 1

The Christian concept of imago dei means that humans are created in the image of God. This means that everyone should have dignity, honor, and rights. This is for all people; it is not changed by social status, race, mental ability, or physical status. (Shelly & Miller, 2006. p76). The implications of this are that we should treat everyone with compassion and respect.

This has many ramifications for health care. We should give everyone compassionate care, even the “least of these”. The elderly, those with Alzheimer’s, the physically deformed, those with mental illness, the handicapped, those with complicated diseases or traumatic injuries, all matter to God, and should matter to us. Even the annoying patients are made in the image of God, and we should be kind and respectful. This does not mean that we have to accept bad or inappropriate behavior, but we can have rules and set limits. We should not look the other way when people suffer injustice, violence, abuse, or neglect. Human trafficking should be a universal evil. We should be aware of these evils and do what we can, in our corner of the world, to stop wrong and help others.

Reference

Shelly, J. & Miller, A. (2006) Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing (2nd edition). Downers Grove, IL InterVarsity Press

Discussion 2

Imago dei, directly translated from Latin means image of God. It is the Christian concept that humans are created in the image of God. According to our book Called to Care, “the Christian understanding of human beings as created in the image of God bestows dignity and honor on every person, regardless of social, mental or physical status” (Shelly & Miller, 2006, p. 76).

The charactaristics for human existence can be seen through Jesus, including being relational, multidimensional, moral, mortal, sexual, and beings destined for eternal life. It is these characteristics of humans that make the concept of imago dei relevant to healthcare. As nurses we must have an understanding of this concept to nurture our fellow human beings and to treat them as we would like to be treated. We cannot properly care for our patients if we see each of them as an isolated individual. If those who work in healthcare believe that we are all created in the image of God, then we see the worth and value in each person we care for (Shelly et al., 2006).

Shelly, J. & Miller, A. (2006) Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing (2nd edition). Downers Grove, IL InterVarsity Press

Discussion 3

In the Christian religion, the imago dei derived from Latin word which means the image of God. It refers to unique imprint God placed upon humanity, identifying people as a special creation. According to Shelly and Miller (2006), “the Christian understanding of human beings as created in the image of God bestows dignity and honor on every person, regardless of social, mental, and physical status.” It means we have special place in God’s plan with moral consequences.

Healthcare refers to stability enough to share in the costs and joys, the blessing and burdens of the community. To be healthy means to be functioning fully in terms of the norms, values, and expectation of the community. All human beings are regarded as the representatives of God on earth. All health care professionals must have the spirit of God, they should be relational and multidimensional and they should treat and care all people without any discrimination and biases. That will help them to understand different cultures, values, beliefs and ideas, so that they can work effectively in different dynamic situations. It is relevant especially in nursing profession because human caring is the heart of nursing and as a universal phenomenon. It guides nurses to perform daily roles in culturally defined and accepted ways for the sake of human beings.

Reference

Shelly and Miller. (2007). Calling To Care. Second Edition. P. 76. Retrieved on May 7, 2018, from https://viewer.gcu.edu/UGPTQ4

Discussion 4

Genesis 1:26 tells us that God said, “Let Us make man in Our image” (New King James Version). That human beings are created by God in His image (‘imago Dei’) helps us understand who we are. Imago Dei means that God made humans to have moral, intellectual, and spiritual capabilities. Christians are commanded to treat every human being with love, and dignity. We are also commanded to respect the sanctity of human life. Along with imago Dei, the principle of doing to others as we would have done to us guides us in our moral and ethical obligations to each other. Christ is the perfect example of God’s nature, and we model that nature as part of living to our fullest potential (Shelly & Miller, 2006).

The principle of imago Dei guides a basic understanding of human rights; it is a principle that appears to be non-existent in parts of our world today. The BBC world news reported recently that in India, a 16-year-old girl was burned alive by her village elders after her parents had filed a police report that she had been raped (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india). It is difficult to understand from a Christian worldview how these so-called ‘honor’ killings are justified.

The implications of neglecting imago Dei in healthcare are severe. For example, in the United Kingdom, a woman with no family history of breast cancer will not receive a mammogram until she is aged 50. Does anyone know how many women under age 50, who have no family history of breast cancer, die from metastatic breast cancer each year in the United Kingdom? Why are these women being neglected? Could it be because the sanctity of every human life is not valued?

Value judgments are also made in healthcare. For example, a 96-year-old patient having a myocardial infarction, is brought to the ER by their family. This patient has severe Alzheimer’s. As the nurses are getting ready to take this patient to the only available Cath lab, EMS calls; they are five minutes out with a 35-year-old firefighter who is also having a heart attack. Who should go to the Cath lab? What decision, guided by imago Dei, would be made?

When healthcare becomes purely for-profit, the principle of imago Dei is forgotten. If that principle is forgotten, then God is forgotten, and the sanctity of human life is no longer respected.

Reference

Shelly, J. A., & Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to care: A Christian worldview for nursing (2 nd ed.). Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic. Retrieved from http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources

Discussion 5

In Genesis, we are told the account of creation. God created the heavens and the earth, he spoke in existence light, day/night, the sky and seas, dry land, all vegetation, the sun/moon/stars and all living creatures and said that it was good. Then on the sixth day, God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”. Genesis 1:26-27 Our text points out the important threefold message found in these verses. “First, we are created and thus distinct from the Creator. Second, we somehow reflect the nature of the God. And finally, God gives us a position of responsibility and authority over the rest of creation”. (Shelly & Miller, 2006)

This is where the term imago dei comes from. We were created in the image of God or imago dei. God chose to create humankind differently than the rest of creation, in His image and to place us over creation as rulers over and caretakers of it.

When we as healthcare providers see all people as created in the image of God, it should affect everything we do. Every person we treat is an opportunity to share God’s love; to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to heal and comfort as he showed us and commanded us to do. All people, regardless of physical, emotional, spiritual health or abilities has intrinsic value and is loved by God. This core concept should drive our ethics and moral decisions about what is right or wrong in treatment provided or not provided. As a Christian, this should be the foundation for all we do in healthcare.

References

Shelly, J. A., & Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to care A Christian worldview for nursing (2nd ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Discussion 6

The Christian concept of imago dei is based on the thought that we, as humans, are created in the image of God. The imago dei
concept has shaped how we understand human rights in the Western society. Our legal and health care systems as well as service agencies reflect this concept in their foundation. We value humankind, no matter who they may be and show compassion to others. To understand the concept, it is important to know the scripture from where this concept originated. From Genesis 1:26, the scripture states, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the
earth.”. (Shelly & Miller, 2006).

Jesus showed us that as humans, we possess spiritual aspects as well as human nature and emotions. Through Jesus, God was showing all human beings the example of caring and compassion for others. In healthcare and nursing, that is why we chose this profession. We chose to care for others by treating them medically, physically, and emotionally to alleviate their suffering. We realize that we are humans and have limitations. We are separate from God in that he is our creator. We realize our limitations in predicting or preventing human
mortality. Without the concept of imago dei, healthcare or nursing would not be necessary.

References

Shelly, J., & Miller, A., (2006). Called to care. A Christian worldview for nursing. 2nd edition. Retrieved from
https://gcumedia.com/digital-resources/intervarsit…