Week 5 Discussion Board Post: Religious Traditions and Beliefs

This discussion board post explores the intersection of religious traditions, inter-religious tensions, and their implications for healthcare practices. The post examines how different religious beliefs, such as those in classical Athens and the adoption of foreign gods, can influence cultural identities and help-seeking attitudes, as well as the impact of such beliefs on nursing ethics and patient care. The author reflects on the challenges of providing care to patients with different religious backgrounds, particularly in the context of potential conflicts between personal faith and professional responsibilities. The post highlights the importance of understanding and respecting diverse religious practices to provide effective and compassionate care, emphasizing the need for nurses to address patients' spiritual needs and navigate the clinical implications of their religious beliefs. The author references relevant academic sources to support the discussion.

Running head: WEEK 5: DISCUSSION BOARD 1
Week 5: Discussion Board (initial post)
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Date

WEEK 5: DISCUSSION BOARD 2
Week 5: Discussion Board (initial post)
Religions adopt elements of other religious traditions due to the existence of multiple
religious traditions. These religions incorporates various elements of other traditions such as
belief systems as a measure if mitigating inter-religious enmity and tensions. As an example, the
classical Athens introduced the aspect of believing in foreign gods from Heracles in their religion
(Brenner et al., 2018). As for the adopting religions, they gain some appeal of more exclusivists
audiences. In contrary to the initial religions, their spiritual means are offensively questioned
hence maintain less exclusivist audiences. In long run, the integrated inter-religious cultures
creates more opportunities for expansion to the adopting religions.
The purpose of religion or religious tradition makes the religion to be valid. Hence, a
religion is valid if it respects the goals of salvation through faith and worship to God. The
distinct elements about non-religious spiritualties in terms of individualism vs a shared world
view is the outward display of their spirituality or religion. This distinction affects the nursing
ethics and practice where nurses respects the spiritual needs of patients, e.g., beliefs that
injections are better than tablets, as a measure of implementing spiritual care in practice
(Jacobsen & Kumar, 2018).
The clinical implications of patient religious beliefs are vast. Some of these clinical
implication include good physical and mental health where the increase in a religious practice is
associated with greater hope of healing, and promotion of happiness and well-being. Nurses’
religions affect their attitude and care through evaluating on whether to express their faith at
work or not, and assuring patients’ consent about their spiritual concerns.

WEEK 5: DISCUSSION BOARD 3
Notably, being a Christian, and having a strong spiritual faith, I may fail to respect other
denominations such as Hindus. Strongly objecting to their belief that limits them to consume
pork products, I may develop a negative attitude that describe such act as an act of pride. Thus,
in times of need, it would be difficult to provide care.

WEEK 5: DISCUSSION BOARD 4
References
Brenner, R. E., Engel, K. E., Vogel, D. L., Tucker, J. R., Yamawaki, N., & Lanin, D. G. (2018).
Intersecting cultural identities and help-seeking attitudes: the role of religious
commitment. Religious & Culture, 21(6), 578-587.
Jacobsen, K. A., & Kumar, P. (Eds.). (2018). South Asians in the diaspora: histories and
religious traditions. Brill.