What do the four parts of the Christian biblical narrative (i.e., creation, fall, redemption, and restoration) say about the nature of God and of reality in relation to the reality of sickness and disease?

The four principles, especially in the context of bioethics in the United States, has often been critiqued for raising the principle of autonomy to the highest place, such that it trumps all other principles or values. How would you rank the importance of each of the four principles? How do you believe they would be ordered in the context of the Christian biblical narrative? Refer to the topic Resources in your response.

Expert Answer and Explanation

Principles of Bioethics and Christianity

The Christian worldview provides moral codes and guidelines that can be used in making decisions in terms of an ethical dilemma. These codes are the basic foundation on which the Christian biblical narrative is based. Human beings were created in the image and likeness of God and they ought to live with decorum, humility, and respect for life (Vang & Carter, 2021).

The principle of bioethics would be ranked differently based on the Christian worldview with the principle of justice and fairness being the first on the list (IEP, 2012). Justice and fairness are important for every Christian since all human beings are the same in the eyes of God. In the healthcare sector, justice and fairness will ensure that each person is provided with the same type of care based on their different illness regardless of social class, gender, or age.

The second principle would be beneficence since it embraces the need for doctors to act in the best interest of all patients. Beneficence ensures that proper medication is administered to help the patient recover from the illnesses.

The third principle would be the autonomy of the patient. The biblical narrative denotes those human beings were given the will to be able to decide between right from wrong. In this regard, a patient has the right to determine whether they need medical attention or alternative care based on their understanding of the self.

The final principle in line with the Christian worldview is the principle of nonmaleficence which addresses the issues associated with the need to prevent any harm to the patient (Aksoy & Tenik, 2002). After all, the necessary care has been administered in the correct manner, the principle of nonmaleficence can be applied to ensure that it informs on the best practice measures to take to help the patient through recovery or prevent further deterioration of the disease.

References

Aksoy, S., & Tenik, A. (2002). The’four principles of bioethics’ as found in 13th century Muslim scholar Mawlana’s teachings. BMC Medical Ethics, 3(1), 1-7.

IEP. (2012). Bioethics.  Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Utm.edu. https://iep.utm.edu/bioethic/

Vang, P., & Carter, T. G. (2021). Telling God’s Story: The Biblical Narrative from Beginning to End. B&H Publishing Group.

Alternative Answer and Explanation

The four principles according to Hoehner (2022) help assist healthcare workers make decisions in ethics. This can be in combination with other tools that we have learned so far. However, it is important to note that Hoehner (2022) also suggests that like other tools, for each person, these four principles may be valued differently, as such, it is important for nurses to have a good understanding of what they mean and how they can be used both personally and professionally.

I would rank the principles in order of importance according to my worldview or belief system as autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. I do think that respecting a person’s choice is of utmost importance. The principle of autonomy ensures that patients are informed of all care options, it can promote honesty between patients and their health team, and provides support to informed consent procedures (Varkey, 2021). Consequently, I find myself at odds with my own list, as I feel that it is important to do no harm after supporting autonomy, which would be a contradiction if I were to practice a strictly Christian viewpoint.

In the Christian view, the principles are listed as beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice. I live very close to Oregon where assisted death is legal. This can be seen as murder to some, and a blessing to others. If I help assist a patient with their choice to die in this state because they practice their autonomy, am I not doing harm because I am respecting their wishes, or am I wrong? Or as a Christian, do not assist them, as it would be to cause harm and killing another person? As Hoehner (2022) suggests, using these principles can sometimes blur the lines of your own personal views and respecting patient wishes, and should be used on a case-by-case basis.

References

Hoehner, P. (2022). Biomedical ethics in the Christian narrative. Practicing Dignity: An Introduction to Christian values and decision making in health care (Second Edition). Grand Canyon University.BibliU – Reader – Practicing Dignity: An Introduction to Christian Values and Decision Making in Health Care

Varkey B. (2021). Principles of Clinical Ethics and Their Application to Practice. Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre, 30(1), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509119

What do the four parts of the Christian biblical narrative (i.e., creation, fall, redemption, and restoration) say about the nature of God and of reality in relation to the reality of sickness and disease? From where would one find comfort and hope in the light of illness according to this narrative? Explain in detail each part of the narrative above and analyze the implications.

Expert Answer and Explanation

Christian Biblical Narrative

The Christian biblical narrative contains four distinct concepts that can be used to elaborate on the nature of God and the reality of life as it relates to sickness, disease, hope, and motivation. These four narratives include creation, fall, redemption, and restoration (Hoehner, n.d). The creation narrative iterates the abundance of the world from the perspective of how God created the world and everything in it and gave human beings power overall. In this regard, human beings were created in the image and likeness of God and expected to ensure the continuity of life on earth.

However, the earth is not without evil as the Christian biblical narrative focuses on the blemish of the earth through the fall. The fallenness of the world is filled with sickness and disease which affect the productivity of human beings (Stumme, n.d.). Fall creates suffering and pain among people and depicts the evil nature of the world.

However, human beings can still find hope in the narrative of redemption where God promises to deliver a person from sickness through healing. Through redemption, a person can overcome the evilness of the world and continue with the creation and lead a positive and productive life.

However, when a person grows of age and the body cannot meet the needs of the world, the narrative offers the hope of eternal life through restoration (Vang & Carter, 2021). The bible teaches content that God will provide eternal life to those who believe and look up to Him. Restoration offers comfort to the Christian that there is life after death. The Christian biblical narrative implies that it can be used to offer hope, care, and end-of-life decision-making.

References

Hoehner, P. J. (n.d.). Biomedical Ethics in the Christian Narrative.

Stumme, J. (n.d.). Inhabiting the Christian Narrative: An Example of the Relationship between Religion and the Moral Life. Journal of Lutheran Ethics, 3.

Vang, P., & Carter, T. G. (2021). Telling God’s Story: The Biblical Narrative from Beginning to End. B&H Publishing Group.

Alternative Expert Answer and Explanation

he relationship between the Christian narrative and the reality of illness and disease is that it proposes that the story can be compared to current events for individuals today. Creation is the beginning of the story which introduces how God made the world and all things in it. He made humans in his image and gave them special precedence to be stewards of this world he created (Hoehner, 2022). The concept of shalom is also introduced as a peaceful state of being in all aspects of one’s life and self (Hoehner, 2022).

The fall of Adam and Eve and being cast out of the garden where disease and illness are prevalent is much like today’s world, where individuals live in this place where they can choose to do right or wrong, be in God’s grace, or not. The fall represents the view that while humans are created in the image of God and have the potential for greatness in glory to him, they are also representative of the rebellious nature that has the potential to turn away from God and do evil (Hoehner, 2022).

In health and illness, the fall relates to using God’s gifts in ways that were not intended. Advances in technology can lead humans to believe that they will be fulfilled by material earthly things, without God in them.

The redemption part of the story focuses on the sacrifice that Jesus made for humankind. Redemption is where humans can restore their relationship with God. It is in this part that humans realize that God is the savior and can bestow upon them miracles and heal them both spiritually and physically, but it is not for favors, but rather as a show of his greatness, forgiveness, and love (Hoehner, 2022). This is also where shalom comes back into play, and individuals seek, through God and Jesus’s sacrifice for humankind, to find peace and restoration within themselves and their lives.

Restoration is the end of the story in that God has promised those who are redeemed a new and glorious life. Some are ready for this life, while others are still meeting challenges of sin and those of human life (Hoehner, 2022). This relates to healthcare in that they are often on the front line to help individuals during the hardest times of pain and suffering. According to Hoehner (2022) this is where Christian nurses can provide unbiased love, care, and support to those who still suffer from the fall.

References

Hoehner, P. (2022). Biomedical ethics in the Christian narrative. Practicing Dignity: An Introduction to Christian values and decision making in health care (Second Edition). Grand Canyon University.BibliU – Reader – Practicing Dignity: An Introduction to Christian Values and Decision Making in Health Care

Case Study on Biomedical Ethics in the Christian Narrative

This assignment will incorporate a common practical tool in helping clinicians begin to ethically analyze a case. Organizing the data in this way will help you apply the four principles and four boxes approach.

Based on the “Case Study: Healing and Autonomy” and other required topic Resources, you will complete the “Applying the Four Principles: Case Study” document that includes the following:

Part 1: Chart

This chart will formalize the four principles and four boxes approach and the four-boxes approach by organizing the data from the case study according to the relevant principles of biomedical ethics: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

Part 2: Evaluation

This part includes questions, to be answered in a total of 500 words, that describe how principalism would be applied according to the Christian worldview.

Remember to support your responses with the topic Resources.

APA style is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Case Study: Healing and Autonomy