Yesterday, I met with my new PCP and her staff. They are part of a faith-based medical group. I mentioned to my mother that there was a crucifix over the door of the exam room and framed Bible verses on the reception desk. For me, this is not a big deal. In fact, it's a comforting reminder that God has my back. She agreed.
We couldn't help but wonder about non-Christians who visited this clinic. Was the religious imagery off-putting? Did they even notice? If they did, was it seen as a case of what some social science types refer to as ambient Protestantism in the southeastern US. In the interest of disclosure, I tend to avoid other kinds of businesses that include fish or crosses in their signage or promotional material. Those emblems seem to hide a multitude of sins I'd prefer to avoid. Yet I was okay with my doctor's office having a cross over the door.
Should I be okay with this? I want to be. I also know one of the perks of living in a big city is there are options for people seeking healthcare. Moreover, there is a part of me that says it should be okay to have faith-based environments among the choices offered. I want to feel comfortable being open about my faith just as I want other people who desire the opposite to be comfortably free from faith. I was taught that religionn and politics were not fodder for polite conversation in public. Can there be a middle ground?
We couldn't help but wonder about non-Christians who visited this clinic. Was the religious imagery off-putting? Did they even notice? If they did, was it seen as a case of what some social science types refer to as ambient Protestantism in the southeastern US. In the interest of disclosure, I tend to avoid other kinds of businesses that include fish or crosses in their signage or promotional material. Those emblems seem to hide a multitude of sins I'd prefer to avoid. Yet I was okay with my doctor's office having a cross over the door.
Should I be okay with this? I want to be. I also know one of the perks of living in a big city is there are options for people seeking healthcare. Moreover, there is a part of me that says it should be okay to have faith-based environments among the choices offered. I want to feel comfortable being open about my faith just as I want other people who desire the opposite to be comfortably free from faith. I was taught that religionn and politics were not fodder for polite conversation in public. Can there be a middle ground?
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