"Atheist priest" appointed as head chaplain in the British National Health Service

Status
Not open for further replies.

Haeralis

Puritan Board Freshman
It's funny how atheistic humanists always want to claim that they are not a religion and then they go and lead teams of priests to make people feel better about themselves.

Also, its depressing that 53% of Britons do not believe in any religion. I pray that God touches the hearts of the people in Europe and that the missionaries over there may be uplifted in the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...point-atheist-head-chaplain-time-history.html

DailyMail said:
A humanist will lead a team of priests as the first atheist head chaplain in the history of the NHS.

The move by the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust comes as more patients need non-religious guidance at hospitals, reports the Times.

At 28, Lindsay van Dijk is one of the youngest chaplains in the NHS and will lead three priests from the Church of England, Baptist and evangelical denominations as well as 24 volunteers from a variety of religions.

Carolyn Morrice, the trust's chief nurse, said Ms van Dijk was picked for her leadership skills, but also said patients are asking for more support that is not linked to a specific faith.

She said: 'It wasn’t specifically about religious support, it was: "How can you support us when we’re feeling vulnerable?"'

As a humanist, Ms van Dijk believes life is giving meaning by seeking happiness and helping others find happiness too. Humanists do not believe in God or an afterlife.

The British Social Attitudes survey last year found that 53 per cent of Britons had no religion, and secular campaigners have praised the decision to appoint Ms van Dijk.

Ms van Dijk told the Times at Stoke Mandeville Hospital: 'Anyone within the chaplaincy team goes to patients to lend a listening ear, to provide spiritual and emotional support, and doesn’t specifically say "I’m from this faith" as it’s not important. We’re not there to proselytise our own beliefs.'

She added that in her new role she has experienced 'mostly curiousity' rather than objections.

A chaplain from a patient's faith can be requested if they wished to perform a certain prayer or religious ritual.

The chief executive of Christian Concern Andrea Williams said: 'People of different faiths or none should be able to choose which chaplaincy service they would like.

'Putting a humanist in charge of the chaplaincy team shows how far we have come from the Christian roots of the NHS.'"
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top