• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!
  • Welcome to our archives. No new posts are allowed here.

A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in God?

Atheists, would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in God?


  • Total voters
    44

X Factor

Anti-Socialist
Dungeon Master
DP Veteran
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
61,606
Reaction score
32,215
Location
El Paso Strong
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Conservative
I ask because I see the argument that believers in God are just not that smart, capable or well educated and may even be delusional or mentally ill. Do you trust a doctors that are believers?

Answers are "yes", "no", and "only if there isn't an atheist alternative"

Working on the poll.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

Who cares? A person's superstitions have zero relevance on their job skills.

Edit: Actually, let me add a caveat. Many far-out extremists allow religion to cloud their judgment. An example would be the idiots who let their children die because they want to let God heal them.
 
A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in

3yzasusy.jpg


Anyway. Would I turn them down? No. 99.9% of the time, it wouldn't come up and could, potentially, be a breach of ethics. If the doctor wanted to make a religious deal out of it, I'd report him to the correct board and, hopefully, get him suspended or fired. However, it would (and should) rarely (if ever) come up unless the patient is a personal friend or is brought up by the patient.
 
Last edited:
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

I ask because I see the argument that believers in God are just not that smart, capable or well educated and may even be delusional or mentally ill. Do you trust a doctors that are believers?

Answers are "yes", "no", and "only if there isn't an atheist alternative"

Working on the poll.

Atheists who believe that are themselves not very smart or well-educated (or the education didn't have much effect). I don't believe in God but I sure as hell wouldn't declare myself smarter than, say, Kierkegaard or Voltaire. And I sure as hell wouldn't refuse treatment from a theist doctor because of her beliefs. That right there would be dumb.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in

3yzasusy.jpg


Anyway. Would I turn them down? No. 99.9% of the time, it wouldn't come up and could, potentially, be a breach of ethics. If the doctor wanted to make a religious deal out of it, I'd report him to the correct board and, hopefully, get him suspended or fired. However, it would (and should) rarely (if ever) come up unless the patient is a personal friend or is brought up by the patient.

Why would you not inquire into the doctor's beliefs? Do you really want someone mentally ill or rock stupid treating you? Doesn't believing in God indicate one or both of those things for you?
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

Any religious convictions that would make a doctor worse at their job is likely to have prevented that person from becoming a doctor in the first place, so I can't imagine how it would be an issue. I've never asked a doctor about their religious notions and wouldn't. It's not really relevant. Now, if a doctor insisted that we stop and pray before treating me, I'd probably seek out a different doctor.

Atheists who believe that are themselves not very smart or well-educated (or the education didn't have much effect). I don't believe in God but I sure as hell wouldn't declare myself smarter than, say, Kierkegaard or Voltaire. And I sure as hell wouldn't refuse treatment from a theist doctor because of her beliefs. That right there would be dumb.

It's not that being an atheist makes you smarter. It's that being smarter tends to make you an atheist.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in

I expect that most of the doctors i have seen are religious.

I would not see a practising jehovah witness doctor though
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in

Why would you not inquire into the doctor's beliefs? Do you really want someone mentally ill or rock stupid treating you? Doesn't believing in God indicate one or both of those things for you?

Fail trolling haz a fail. Who said they were mentally ill? If they're mentally ill, they have no place to treat people. Francis Collins is a great scientist ... 6 days a week. On Sundays, he throws all that out in lieu of primordial superstitions - that's quite a high level of compartmentalization. Doesn't negate his work 6 days of the week.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

Any religious convictions that would make a doctor worse at their job is likely to have prevented that person from becoming a doctor in the first place, so I can't imagine how it would be an issue. I've never asked a doctor about their religious notions and wouldn't. It's not really relevant. Now, if a doctor insisted that we stop and pray before treating me, I'd probably seek out a different doctor.

Wouldn't the fact that they're just not as smart and maybe even mentally ill make them worse at their job?
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

Any religious convictions that would make a doctor worse at their job is likely to have prevented that person from becoming a doctor in the first place, so I can't imagine how it would be an issue. I've never asked a doctor about their religious notions and wouldn't. It's not really relevant. Now, if a doctor insisted that we stop and pray before treating me, I'd probably seek out a different doctor.

Like I said, that'd probably be a breach of ethics and he should be suspended or fired.

I expect that most of the doctors i have seen are religious.

I would not see a practising jehovah witness doctor though

I don't know if they'd come in your room, either. They'd knock on the door, and go somewhere else. :lol:
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in

Why would you not inquire into the doctor's beliefs? Do you really want someone mentally ill or rock stupid treating you? Doesn't believing in God indicate one or both of those things for you?

What kind of point are you trying to make with this clear bait thread?
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in

What kind of point are you trying to make with this clear bait thread?

I don't intend this as a bait thread at all. My OP explains why I asked the question, which I asked as straightforwardly as I could and didn't add any commentary to the responses that would weight them one way or the other.

I actually just thought this was an interesting question.
 
Last edited:
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

Wouldn't the fact that they're just not as smart and maybe even mentally ill make them worse at their job?

The ones that aren't smart enough or mentally ill didn't make it to become doctors, and they likely wouldn't have lasted in the job long enough to see me if they were killing their patients. The ones who think that god controls who gets well and who doesn't wouldn't make it through med school. The ones who vehemently deny evolutionary theory would never even have passed the basic biology classes they would have had to take in undergrad.

The casually religious are hardly dangerous. They're the ones who go to church because they like the people there, not because they really think their eternal souls are on the line. Those are the religious doctors. But the really religious, who freak out at the idea of girls learning about sex in school, or passionately campaign to keep gays from having equal rights, or are engaging in this "Christian Domestic Discipline" thing, they are a big problem. They are the threats to our liberty and to the truth. But they wouldn't make it as doctors.

So no, the crazy and dumb ones won't be doctors in the first place.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

It's not that being an atheist makes you smarter. It's that being smarter tends to make you an atheist.

I disagree. Many of the best and brightest in history have been theists. The most intelligent person I know is a conservative Jew. It's shallow thinking to assume that smarter people tend to be atheists.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

The ones that aren't smart enough or mentally ill didn't make it to become doctors, and they likely wouldn't have lasted in the job long enough to see me if they were killing their patients. The ones who think that god controls who gets well and who doesn't wouldn't make it through med school. The ones who vehemently deny evolutionary theory would never even have passed the basic biology classes they would have had to take in undergrad.

The casually religious are hardly dangerous. They're the ones who go to church because they like the people there, not because they really think their eternal souls are on the line. Those are the religious doctors. But the really religious, who freak out at the idea of girls learning about sex in school, or passionately campaign to keep gays from having equal rights, or are engaging in this "Christian Domestic Discipline" thing, they are a big problem. They are the threats to our liberty and to the truth. But they wouldn't make it as doctors.

So no, the crazy and dumb ones won't be doctors in the first place.

I've known several doctors that legitimately believe in their faith. The genuinely religious actually can make it though med school and become doctors (but I admit, all I really have is anacdotal and based on my own experience).
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in

I don't intend this as a bait thread at all. My OP explains why I asked the question, which I asked as straightforwardly as I could and didn't add any commentary to the responses that would weight them one way or the other.

I actually just thought this was an interesting question.

You can't seriously think that all atheists believe that all religious people are moronic, and/or mentally handicapped?

If you do, then I'm sorry, but if you don't this is an obvious bait thread.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in

You can't seriously think that all atheists believe that all religious people are moronic, and/or mentally handicapped?

If you do, then I'm sorry, but if you don't this is an obvious bait thread.

Probably, he doesn't believe that of all atheists, just wants to pick an argument with the ones that do.
Pretty much, that's what we're all here for, an argument.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

I disagree. Many of the best and brightest in history have been theists. The most intelligent person I know is a conservative Jew. It's shallow thinking to assume that smarter people tend to be atheists.

Who? Like Newton, Galileo, or Einstein? Not a one of them would subscribe to the personal god that modern theists espouse. Thomas Jefferson rewrote the bible without the god bits. "Shallow thinking", but, you know, true. Most members of the academy of science are atheists.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in

You can't seriously think that all atheists believe that all religious people are moronic, and/or mentally handicapped?

If you do, then I'm sorry, but if you don't this is an obvious bait thread.

Certainly there are some who do think that way (presuming those who stated things like that were sincere and not just trying to be insulting), but I don't know how prevelant the thinking is, which is another reason I asked, to get an idea. I started another poll awhile ago about whether you'd go to a doc you know used pot. Same idea here, only I didn't post it in the poll section because this seems like more of a philosopical question than a political one.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

Who? Like Newton, Galileo, or Einstein? Not a one of them would subscribe to the personal god that modern theists espouse. Thomas Jefferson rewrote the bible without the god bits. "Shallow thinking", but, you know, true. Most members of the academy of science are atheists.

Hm.
Soren Kierkegaard-Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.
-Once you label me you negate me.
Voltaire-Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.
-I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.
Admittedly, neither was a scientist. Lots of intelligent people aren't.
There's very many more quotes, but it's past bedtime.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

I ask because I see the argument that believers in God are just not that smart, capable or well educated and may even be delusional or mentally ill. Do you trust a doctors that are believers?

Answers are "yes", "no", and "only if there isn't an atheist alternative"

Working on the poll.

In general, no. The religious are famously good at partitioning off their beliefs when it suits convenience, or simply reality, as long as there is no especially strong dogma attached to it. Thus, I have no reason not to trust a religious doctor for the most part.

However, I avoid them in the particular case of gyno care. This is where the dogma comes into play big time.

Religious and/or conservative gynos are famous for treating women like me very, very poorly, and even outright lying to them. I've known a number of women who were forced to undergo rigged psych evals and transferred in circles until they just gave up for their permanent or long-term BC, if they were working with gynos like this.

When looking for a gyno, I head down to the local clinic and say, "Give me the card of the most liberal gyno you can possibly think of." I have always gotten excellent care since I began doing this.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

I ask because I see the argument that believers in God are just not that smart, capable or well educated and may even be delusional or mentally ill. Do you trust a doctors that are believers?

Answers are "yes", "no", and "only if there isn't an atheist alternative"

Working on the poll.

Although I find it disturbing when any adult believes in fairy tales, that will almost never effect my decision on what doctor I pick. I judge based on their performance and their skillset. As long as he doesn't try to attempt a faith healing during surgery, we'll be alright.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

I've known several doctors that legitimately believe in their faith. The genuinely religious actually can make it though med school and become doctors (but I admit, all I really have is anacdotal and based on my own experience).

Apparently they didn't believe it enough to declare science the work of the devil like some of their more devout countrymen. Again, if they had any practices that would make them incapable of performing their job, it would have stopped them from getting it long before they get to me. So no, I do not worry about my doctors' religions. I worry only about their qualifications, which can include being nuts.

I don't think they're as genuinely religious as you think. Do they stone disobedient children to death? Do they refuse to treat gay patients? Do they think that prayer will cure their patients? No? Then they're pretty casual in their religion.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

What difference does it make, I'm counting on their years of medical training, not the other idiocy that goes on in their heads. So long as they are a good doctor and are operating on good medical knowledge, I don't care if they go home and sacrifice chickens.
 
Re: A Question for Atheists. Would you get treatment from a doctor who believes in Go

X Factor, there are several reasons that some, myself included, see this as something of a bait thread.

  1. It is not a position of hardly any atheist that belief in God makes you stupid. Much more prevalent is that belief in God is not a rational belief, which is completely different.
  2. At best, belief in god would be the least important factor of a doctor's skill.
  3. How would any one know? Do you really think atheists go around asking every one their religious beliefs?
 
Back
Top Bottom