Christian Vs. Postmodern Relativism Perspectives
For most believers, Christianity is not just by word of mouth. They often walk their talk, endeavoring to put into practice all that they believe is true and good for humanity. These facts and truths are presented in the Holy Book, the Bible, which is perhaps their point of reference in their daily actions. In the medical sector, most practitioners have integrated spirituality into their practices as it is essential in the delivery of holistic care. This more so applies to the nurses since their work primarily revolves around patient welfare. Nurses who engage in the spiritual approach for the providence of holistic care will indulge in practices of love, compassion, self- control, among others. God’s character is the basis of these Christian actions, which are also termed ethical in society.
Instances such as creating time to give an ear to patients and giving them not only the medical advice but also the general counsels and encouragement may be termed good. This is from a Christian point of view because it is an act of love according to their spirituality and ethical foundation. However, according to the postmodern relativism, the acts, as mentioned above, being good are relative to one’s beliefs or preferences. This is because it claims that there is no genuine truth, only subjective beliefs or opinions, including matters of good and bad or wrong and right. Considering a case where a patient will clearly die due to their ailment, the Christian approach will demand that the patient or family be informed. Contrary to that, with postmodern relativism, since it is subjective, it may term revealing the information as bad. However, this is also against health practitioners’ ethical conduct, which does not allow the concealing of information.
Scientism
Different from science, which only seeks to have a better perspective of the world through clearly stated and well-established methods, is scientism, which basically restricts human inquiries to the results of science. It claims that anything that does not have a scientific root of explanation cannot be known. Science has indeed been helpful in enlightening us on a wide variety of phenomena around the globe. From explaining the causes of diseases to helping in providing for their medications, its milestones have been huge in the medical world. For scientism, all things, including the right and wrong, can be explained from a scientific approach. However, this is not correct based on two arguments.
First and foremost, science has its own boundaries in terms of giving knowledge on issues. While it will be very influential in gathering information and facts about things, it will not direct how the data collected will be applied once that is done. For instance, through science, diagnosis of a disease is made. However, how the doctors use the diagnosis is not dependent on science. Furthermore, scientism is self-refuting. This means that though it demands everything to have a scientific explanation, there is none in support of it. There is no scientific proof that only science provides knowledge and that the rest are just opinions or perceptions. Scientism, if adopted, may have repercussions on many things but especially ethics and spirituality, since they rule what we mostly engage in day in day out.
Worldview Analysis
Ultimate Reality
When talking of matters’ ultimate reality, we refer to the highest authorities, according to an individual. This differs in people all over the world where some choose living things while others’ ultimate realities are non-living things. From the atheists who adore science to the Buddhists who believe energy to be their ultimate reality, people differ in their beliefs. As for me, I subscribe to the theism view that acknowledges God as the ultimate reality. This is because, as a Christian, I believe that it is through Him that everything and anything exists. Again, there are things in our world that are beyond human explanation, which I believe God bests understands. Moreover, I think the otherworldly ultimate realities all have an origin from God. Our ultimate realities have proven to affect our worldviews indeed.
Nature of Universe
This aspect is closely related to the ultimate reality. This is because individuals will view the universe, depending on their ultimate realities. The atheists talk of the world as a collection of atoms, which is different from those ascribed to the theism view in the previous topic. Though, in most cases, the majority is always wrong; in this issue, I support most people that the universe is as a result of God’s working. The process of world formation did not just occur naturally, as some claim. It had been formulated and planned, and its execution was perfect. Furthermore, God, who is the creator of the universe, continues daily to manifest Himself in us and did not abandon the universe after creating it. He continues to rule over this world from heaven, where we Christians know He abounds.
Human Being
From a personal view that conquers with the Christian worldview, we human beings are mortals created and made in God’s image. Not that we take physical resemblance with him, but which means that we share the same attributes with our maker and creator. It is these attributes that distinguish us from the rest of the creation, be it other creatures or the inanimate things. Through procreation from our parents, we multiply as God commanded them in Eden. Contrary to our belief, atheists who their ultimate reality is science, claim that no power is behind human existence. That we are a result of the biological and chemical scientific processes. Nonetheless, I believe even the way we are made and how we function is as a result of some planning. Our body processes cannot be explained to be in place scientifically. Someone is responsible for this, God.
Knowledge
Knowledge is simply what we know. For theists, who include the Muslims, Jews, and Christians, knowledge comes from God. In fact, the Bible, which is the Holy book used by Christians, states knowledge as one of the Holy Spirit’s gifts according to 1st Corinthians 12:8. Other than only acquiring knowledge from God through the holy books, theists, I included, also seek knowledge from other places, including science, to help gain a better understanding of the world. I think that the knowledge we acquire is sometimes beyond the physical nature of this world—for instance, knowledge of God himself or even heaven where he dwells. However, for atheists, they limit their sources of knowledge to senses and human thinking. It is the human reasoning that later enables individuals to discern the scientific aspects of the world.
Basis of Ethics
Ethics generally gives ground to the subject of something either being right or wrong. As a practicing Christian, what I do and how I do it is based on God’s character and what the Bible states. Several Bible passages have lessons concerning the various aspects of life that an individual goes through. These passages teach what to do in some situations and likewise warn against the bad practices. Thus, in terms of ethical decisions, my choices are always objective in all situations. For instance, in the practice of my profession, when revealing the health condition of a patient on the verge of death, I would apply Exodus 20:16, which discourages cheating. Luckily, what the Bible terms as good is often what the society terms as ethical thus, my Christianity principles do not contradict general ethical standards.
Purpose of Existence
Since childhood, I’ve always felt good whenever the lives of the people around me are faring on well. A smile on their face meant that one would appear on mine. Today, my professional duties revolve around interacting with numerous people, the young and old, the rich and poor, people with different backgrounds, and even beliefs. The fact that I tend to the medical needs for their betterment gives me a lot of happiness. However, I do not entirely think that my efforts or coincidence have seen me land in the nursing world. I believe that God placed me in this environment to efficiently and effectively fulfill my purpose on planet earth. This purpose, I tend to think, is being at others’ service as Christ himself was. I am not to cleanse away sins as did Christ but help offload disease burdens in a manner that portrays Christ to others.