Question

What is the role of a religious ethic in public policy today? Should a religious ethic or theistic worldview take priority over that of others? How can religious policy decision makers remain true to their personal values while respecting the views of individuals with differing cultural and spiritual beliefs? 

Answer 1

Public policy is based on our policy makers, so when we write future policies it will be based on our experiences and beliefs.  Just like with how we treat patients comes from our own experiences and how we care for others. The nurses are unique because they look at the whole person, holistically, not just numbers but assure the dignity of the patient.It’s interesting, as a surgical nurse, patients are always anxious about surgery.  But for some reason once they have spoken, their (patient’s) anxiety reduces and they feel like they have autonomy over their care. I believe that when they take their religious spirituality, that they add their own personal values and morality to influencing change especially with the focus of policy.  They are luckier than some other countries, they have freedom of religion but with it comes the history where they try to separate church and state. In Judaism, they are taught that there is value in life, that the reason they are born is because at that moment god decided they were needed to serve a purpose.  While he/she appreciates that legally they are meant to keep a separation between church and state, he/she thinks that policy making can only benefit from their own values and experiences.