Intercultural Competence and Patient-Centered Care _ _____________________________________________
for humankind [138]. The third tenet refers to the covenant, which is a contractual agreement between God and the Jewish people. According to the agreement, they will be rewarded if they obey God and keep his commandments; failing to do so would result in divine retribution. Also, they believe that study- ing the Torah and faithfulness to God and his commandments may hasten the arrival of the Messiah [136; 138]. Jewish law focuses on dietary practices, the Sabbath, and annual holidays or festivals. Observing the dietary laws is called keeping kosher. One’s home is considered the table of the Lord, and therefore certain animals considered unclean (e.g., pork, shellfish) are not to be eaten. However, animals with split hooves and animals that chew their cud are accept- able. Acceptable animals must be slaughtered correctly, must have the blood drained from them, and must not be served with dairy products. Those who adhere to kosher laws have separate sets of dishes and utensils for preparing and serving meat, dairy products, and Passover meals [138; 139]. Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur are major festivals observed by members of the faith. Christianity Christianity emerged in the 1st century C.E. It is the largest religion in North America, and there are approximately 2 bil- lion followers worldwide [136]. There are three major divisions in Christianity: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism [136; 138]. Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and followers believe that salvation and eternal life can be obtained through their belief in Jesus [137]. The concept of the Trinity is also basic to Christian belief. Although God is perceived as one, God is also expressed in three roles: Father (Creator), Son (Redeemer), and the Holy Spirit (Sustainer) [138; 139]. Baptism and the Eucharist or Holy Communion are the primary sacraments celebrated in most Christian churches [138]. Baptism symbolizes the forgiveness of sins, new life, and initiation into the Christian church. During the baptism, persons are either immersed in water or water is sprinkled or poured over them. Eucharist or Holy Communion is a ritual meal in which bread and wine are taken in remembrance of the body and blood of Jesus that was broken and shed at the cross [136]. Major Christian holidays include Easter (com- memorating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) and Christmas (celebrating the birth of Jesus). Christians consider the Bible to be the word of God. It is composed of 66 to 81 separate books (depending on denomi- nation). Christians hold various perspectives on the nature, purpose, and approaches to the interpretation of the Bible. Islam Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States and throughout the world [140]. Members of Islam are called Muslims, and approximately 3.45 million live in the United States [140]. Islam began in Arabia around 570–632 C.E. and
was founded by the prophet Muhammad. It is a monotheistic religion whose followers believe there is one God and that Muhammad was his last Prophet. They believe the Qur’an (or Koran) is the literal word of God (or Allah in Arabic) that was revealed to Muhammad and mediated by Gabriel, the angel of revelation [138]. Arabic is the language used in Islamic prayer/ liturgy [137]. Major festivals or holidays include Al-Hijra, Milad un Nabi, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Day of Ashura, and Laylatul Qadr. Most Muslims are of one of two denominations: Sunni and Shia. While various denominations may have slightly different beliefs or translations, Islam has six major doctrines. The first is the belief in divine unity, or tawhid [136; 138]. The second is the belief in angels as agents of God. Angels have many func- tions, such as carrying messages to prophets and watching over and keeping track of people. The third is a belief in prophecy as revealed in the Qur’an. The fourth involves belief in scripture (Qur’an), and the fifth is the belief in Judgment Day and life after death [136; 138]. On the Last Day (or final judgment), both the living and the dead will be judged. The faithful will be rewarded, and the unfaithful will be cast into hell. Finally, the sixth doctrine is the Divine Decree and Predestination. It suggests that Allah has already determined who will receive eternal salvation [136; 138]. The Five Pillars are the core beliefs and practices of Islam. The first is the Shahada (profession of faith)—the belief that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger [136]. The second pillar is the Salat (ritual prayer). Muslims pray facing Mecca five times every day: at dawn, noon, mid- afternoon, sunset, and evening [138]. The prayers are usually performed on a rug or mat specifically for this purpose. Zakat (almsgiving) is the third pillar of Islam. Muslims are expected to donate a certain portion of their income to community members in need [138]. Sawm (or fasting) is the fourth pillar of Islam. During the daylight hours of Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims are expected to abstain from food, drink, and sexual relations. This is a time of reflecting, renewing faith, and being grateful for everything Allah has given [138]. The fifth pillar of Islam is Hajj (pilgrimage). After 16 years of age, every Muslim in good health and whose finances permit is expected to visit the holy city of Mecca, located in present-day Saudi Arabia. Hinduism Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions, dating back to about 1500 B.C.E. [138]. Unlike other major religions, it was not founded by a single person but was born of many religious beliefs and philosophies [138]. Hinduism originated in India, and today it is the third-largest religion in the world. There are approximately 1.1 billion adherents worldwide and 2.3 million adherents in the United States [141]. Hinduism is a polytheistic religion with three major deities: Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma [138]. There are many sacred texts in Hinduism, including The Ramayana, an epic tale of Lord Rama’s victory over the 10-headed demon Ravana, and The Mahabharata, the world’s longest epic poem that is an historical account of the
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