Beliefs and Healthcare Practices of
Major Religious Traditions in the United
States
Religion Beliefs
Believe in the individual's choice
Adventist and God's sovereignty. The body
is believed to be the temple of
the Holy Spirit.
Accept the Koran as their sacred
American scripture (see Islam); most stress
Muslim the importance of cooperation
Mission among blacks in business and
education to build self -esteem.
Believe in a basis harmony
Bahai between religion and science.
International
Community
Select Healthcare
Practices
 The taking of all narcotics
and stimulants is
prohibited because the
body is the temple of the
Holy Spirit and should be
protected. Many groups
prohibited meat.
 Many regard Saturday as
the Sabbath.
 Approach to healthcare is
holistic.
 Members are encouraged
to obtain healthcare
provided by members of
the black community.
 Major tenets involve
(prohibitions against pork
and alcohol), hygiene
(extreme cleanliness),
lifestyle modifications,
and marital faithfulness.
 Seek out competent
medical care and pray for
health.
 Obligatory prayers, holy
days, and the 19-day fast.
 Permanent sterilization is

Buddha or '' The great physician''
Buddhism taught the Four Noble Truths to
indicate the range of ''suffering'',
its ''origin'', its ''cessation'', and
the ''way'' that leads to its
cessation. The real cause of
human suffering is ignorant
craving. The Noble Eight Fold
Path, which consists of right
views, aspirations, speech,
conduct, mode of livelihood,
effort, mindfulness, and
concentration, leads to the
cessation of suffering.
They deny the existence of
Christian health crises; sickness, and sin
Scientist are errors of the human mind and
can overcome by altering
thoughts, not by using drugs or
medicines.
prohibited, and abortion is
discouraged.
 Buddhists do not
outwardly proclaim
healing through faith.
However, spiritual peace
and liberation from
anxiety attained through
the awakening to
Buddha's wisdom may be
an important factor in
expediting healing and
the recovery process.
 Accepts modern science.
The doctrine of avoidance
of extremes is applied to
the use of drugs, blood
and vaccines.
 Buddhism does not
condone taking lives of
any form.
 Check with the patient
about any special diet
restrictions and the
observance of holy days.
 They will use orthopaedic
services to set a bone but
decline drugs and in
general, other medical or
surgical procedures.
 They do not allow
hypnotism or any form of
psychotherapy, which
alters the ''Divine Mind''.
 A Christian Science
Practitioner may be called
to administer spiritual
support.
 Alcohol and tobacco are

Devout adherents believe in
Church of divine healing through the
Jesus Christ ''laying on the hands'', though
of Latter Day many do not prohibited medical
Saints therapy. The Church maintains
an extensive and well-funded
( Mormons) welfare system, including
financial support for the sick.
Inherent in Confucianism is the
Confucianism appreciation of life and the desire
to keep the body from untimely
or unnecessary death.
Health is a manifestation of the
Daoism harmony of the universe,
( Taoism) obtained through the proper
balancing of internal and external
forces. Implicit throughout the
Daoist tradition is the tendency
to understand salvation in the
biomedical sense of health and
qualitative improvement and
prolongation of human life. The
universal principle of the Tao is
the mysterious biologic and
spiritual life rhythm or order of
nature.
Doctrine of transmigration Moral
Hinduism Factors, linked with the all
embracing doctrine of ''karma'',
were believed to be significant in
promoting health or causing
not used.
 Disapproved of alcohol,
tobacco, and caffeinated
beverages.
 A special undergarment
worn by some members
should be removed only in
an emergency.
 Appreciate life and desire
to keep the body from
untimely or unnecessary
death.
 Historically emphasized
public health solutions to
impending health
problems.
 There is a ''medicinal''
concern for maintaining
and prolonging human
health and life (sheng).
Knowing and living a
natural life -following the
Tao -- is the secret of both
health and sagehood.
 Long tradition of seeking
pragmatic medical
techniques, along with its
religious techniques of
meditation and ritual for
establishing a harmony of
body and spirit, humanity,
and nature (holistic
approach).
 Hindu medicine shows a
surprising openness to
new ideas, at least in
respect to practical
treatment.
 disease.
They oppose the ''false
Jehovah's teachings'' of other sects;
Witnesses opposition often extends to
modern science; including
medicine.
Formation closely bound with a
Judaism divine revelation and with
commitment to obedience to
God's will. The Hebrew Bible is
the authority, guide, and
inspiration of the many forms of
religion of the Jews (currently
Reform, Conservative, and
Orthodox).
Allah, one God, who is only one
Islam all seeing, all hearing, all
speaking, all knowing, all willing,
all powerful.
Must be able to practice the Five
Pillars of Islam.
May have a fatalistic view of
 Many Hindu dietary
restrictions conform to
individual sect doctrine.
 The nurse administering
medications should avoid
touching patient's lips.
 Certain prescribed rites
are followed after death;
disposal of the body is by
cremation.
 Blood Transfusions violate
God's laws and therefore
are not allowed.
 The courts have not
supported the right of
Jehovah Witness parents
to refuse life-saving
treatment for their
children.
 Use of alcohol and
tobacco are discouraged.
 For observant Jews;
special needs in the areas
of diet, birth rituals, male
and female contact, and
death.
 Treatment and procedures
should not be scheduled
on the Sabbath.
 Obligatory prayers, holy
days, and fasting
(Ramadan), and
almsgiving.
 Koranic law and customs
that influence birth, diet
 health.
Difficult to generalize, notion of
Native cosmic harmony, emphasis on
American directly experiencing powers and
Religions vision and a common view of the
cycle of life and death. Death is
not the end but the beginning of
new life (reincarnation or
transcendent hereafter).
Worship of the one God revealed
Protestantis to the world through Jesus Christ.
m Love of neighbors is a central
tenet. Other beliefs include sin,
redemption, salvation and a final
accounting with God. Care of the
sick encouraged God the author
and giver of life is also the
healer. Most accept modern
medical science.
Worship of the one God revealed
Roman to the world through Jesus Christ.
Catholicism Love of neighbors is a central
tenet. Other beliefs include sin,
redemption, salvation, and final
accounting with God. Care of the
sick encouraged. God the author
and giver of life is also the
healer. Human life is a gift of
(eating pork and drinking
alcohol are forbidden),
care of women, death and
prayer rituals.
 Some Muslim women are
not allowed to make
independent decisions;
husbands nay need to be
present when consent is
sought.
 Rituals mark important life
changes, birth, puberty,
initiation rites, and death.
 Medicine men and women
have specialized spirits
from whom they receive
the mission to cure.
 Common therapeutic
measures: sucking,
blowing, and drawing out
with a feather fan.
 Religious practices
according to
denomination may include
prayer, faith healing,
''laying on hands'', and
anointing.
 Sacraments: baptism,
communion, confirmation.
 Importance of private
devotions and Mass
attendance on Sunday.
 Seven sacraments
(importance of baptism,
Eucharist, penance, and
the anointing o the sick).
 God. Many take an antiabortion
stance; most accept modern
medical science.
God is the living, eternal person
Unification who represents universal love
church and care. God created the world
and humans to reflect his nature.
The goal of the Unification
Church is to unite Christians
everywhere as one family under
God.
Encouraged creativity reason and
Unitarian
living an ethical life. No member
Universal is required to adhere to a given
Association of creed or set of religious beliefs.
Churches and The inherent worth and dignity of
Fellowships every person is affirmed.
 Dietary habits
 Sexual ethical norms
 Only natural means of
birth control; abortion,
euthanasia, and
sterilization are forbidden.
 Most members are still
healthy young adults.
There is little information
available on their
interactions with the
healthcare team.
 Free to accept what they
take to be best for their
health.
PROJECT
IN
ELECTIVE

Submitted by:
Jessica Ebe Belela
BSN III-A

Submitted to:
Ma’am Eloi Atienza, RN., MAN