JIM LEE
Just recently our local public hospital had to cut costs so they fired the Hospital funded Chaplain. This caused an uproar among the local Christian community. Following is my letter which managed to get published in three Newspapers around the area.
FUNDED CHAPLAINS:
For nearly two thousand years the victor in Western Civilization’s war for alleged souls has been Christianity. They have rewritten history to suit the needs of those in power and those in control of the clergy and Chaplains.
“Non denominational Chaplains” are “Christian” and in the interest of all humanity, in this day and age of multi-culture and multi-religions, institutionalized Chaplaincy should be phased out and replaced by secular Counselors more able to deal with society in an unbiased and non-religious fashion.
Chaplains in hospitals deal with people who may be highly traumatized, or accident victims of shock from the sudden death of a loved one. In these instances they are incapable of thinking in a rational and logical fashion.
Some patients may be either Hindu, Buddhist, Orthodox Jew, Muslim, or other religious persuasion. Other break away groups within the Christian ranks that the mainstream media brand as “cults” would not even approach a Chaplain for alleged spiritual guidance. No Chaplain has the right to coerce patients to be involved in his own religious persuasion.
Why is this so? Christianity has no monopoly on ethics and values. Australia has no state religion and Australians are free to pursue an ethical life philosophy, like self-realization through reason. They are free to reject religions and the supernatural, or have a religion, Christian, or otherwise.
When tackling problems rationally, whether individual or social, most people use reason, commonsense, self-awareness and personal independence. They look to family and friends for support, and try to do what is best by reference to needs and experiences. The attempt to compel another to be involved in religion is a germ that develops into spiritual despotism. No Chaplain has the right to persuade any person to be involved in religion, not even his own! Or to abide by religious rules and commandments.
It is this practical, enlightened approach that has liberated people in modern societies from both religious and state authoritarianism.
Religious indoctrination of any persuasion belongs in the home, Church, Temple, Synagogue, and Mosque, and not by funded Chaplains in public hospitals.
I guess I’ve upset the apple cart again?