S.O.A.P. For Atheists

Developing observation skills are of key importance when working as a paramedic. About 25,000 times I had responded to assess, treat, and transport patients in various stages of life and death. In our state we use the SOAP format to document patient contact.

S: Subjective is what you are told by patients, bystanders, witnesses, police, other personel. Also patient history, meds, allergies, and so forth. Clues like medications and last time they went to the doctor for the current problem can tell you a lot about you patients underlying conditions, and if this ever happened to them before, and so forth.

O: Objective is what you find during a detailed exam from head to toe, ECG, blood draw, labs, vital signs or other modalities as needed.

A: Assessment/Diagnosis

P: Plan is what you have done to treat the patient. Airway, splints, procedures, medication IV’s, shocks, etc. Preferably all documented in order.

The first two, the S and the O, are the focus of today’s topic.

In Christianity we are told many things of Gods love and his eternal goodness, perfection, wisdom, protection and so forth. God is love, and god answers prayer and cares for your needs. What we actually see is a completely different story. Our examination does not match the nature of the call.

What we find in scripture, the physical world, and from the pulpits is another story altogether. And if the followers of god are trying to be like him, we are in for a world of vanity, jealousy, incoherence, miscommunication, arrogance, ambiguity, murder, slavery, genocide, contradiction, oppression, eternal torment, shifting morality, lying preachers, pious racism, land grabbing, famine, fear, guilt, and diplomatic tension. But this will be good. “Very good”

What I found when comparing what I was told in the church, to what I actually saw as obvious evidence of how things really were, nothing was as advertised. Short Video of Chief Dan George and a salesman.

Author: jimoeba

Alternatives to big box religions and dogmas

49 thoughts on “S.O.A.P. For Atheists”

  2. Ask, you will be given. Search, you shall find.
    These are my favourite statements.
    I bet you have a lot of stories to tell as a paramedic. You must’ve seen so many people in their critical moments.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  3. Hi Jim,
    I think we all bring our life experiences to our understanding of culture. You know, I didn’t ever think much about my church experience. I grew up going to church, then decided that as a prudent parent I should do the same with our children. I certainly had doubts and my mother told me that I asked very difficult questions of her when I was young, but exposing our offspring to religion was something I just DID – it seemed the responsible thing to do. It wasn’t until I was older and very involved with the church (I was on just about every committee you can name) that I started to ask myself what I was doing. One by one, as our children all grew up and went off to University, they became atheists. One of our daughters has told me that she never believed any of what she learned in Sunday School – in fact, she always thought it was completely stupid. So, in my mid-50’s, our eldest asked, “Mum, you don’t really believe all that, do you?”, when I had to actually study intently what I believed, my exit was a bit drawn-out. One of the things I did that summer was read the Bible from cover to cover. (Like most every other churchgoer, I only ever heard the scriptures that were discussed on a given Sunday by the minister) I am an English major, and it became very clear to me that the Bible was certainly not ‘spirit-inspired’. In fact, it contained all the ingredients of a great myth. So that was one more hurdle crossed and one more thing that convinced me that there was no such thing as the supernatural.
    Yes, we all should look around us. It’s amazing what we really see when we do. Some things really aren’t there. 🙂

    Liked by 9 people

    Reply

      1. So true about it all being right in front of you and they only read religious propaganda, never the history, archeology, research or even other religions and their views. A very narrow pathetic view of the world and their own lives, but they don’t see it.

        Liked by 5 people

        Reply

      3. I’ve had religious friends say, “Look around you. All this is pure evidence of God’s existence.” No. No it isn’t. It’s evidence that, as far our senses can tell us, that the earth, stars, moon, etc exist, but, as to how, why, what, when there’s only one honest answer: We don’t know. “Why do think this is all here then if not for God?” The only answer is, “I don’t know.” All else, at this point in time, is speculative, and imaginative. What I like about science, is that it starts with this premise and then adds, “If you want to make a definitive statement regarding something happening in reality, you have to have tangible, empirical evidence for it and be prepared to say, “OOPS! That hypothesis was wrong–let’s try again,” when you’re shown that you’re wrong. Religion is utter bullshit. It’s just a mental projection of what people WANT to be real, not what actually, provably is. If Jesus pops down tomorrow and says, “Here I am, bros and gals. I exist,” I’ll be more than eager to say, “I was wrong thinking he didn’t.” But to simply believe religious crap, especially from the likes of Mel, C.S., and humorless man, Branyan, just because I’m told to, is ridiculous.

        Liked by 5 people

        Reply

        1. I have noticed a difference in the atheist vs the religious mindset. I too, am
          Willing to change based on new evidence. But for now I’m not holding my breath. The religious heels are dug in no matter what the evidence.

          Liked by 5 people

          Reply

          1. Absolutely. That’s why Trump appeals to them. He’s never wrong no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary. When is the last time you’ve heard a religious person, especially one like we deal with here, who’s admitted they just might be wrong about their beliefs? Hell, they can’t even say something like, “There is a god even though it may not be the one or ones I believe in.” They’re NEVER wrong.

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply

            1. Here’s a quote from JZ in my comment thread. “Oh, he knows he’s wrong. He admits when he says, “So what” – but then runs to another point quickly deflecting.

              Liked by 1 person

          2. Nan, I do believe if they could pull off a huge hoax with holograms or some other technology to fool people into believing, they would do it. It’s that important. And based on the words they’ve used in the past, they would feel justified in doing so.

            Like

            Reply

  4. As an EMT/Paramedic, did you ever hear stories of NDE’s?

    Anytime I have the chance to hear carefully and in detail people’s explanations of their Near Death Experience, I am fascinated by some common themes among NDE survivors, but the completely UNIQUE experiences; none of them the same. I also like to get a basic fair picture of the NDE survivor’s background, culture, etc. Thoughts? History? 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. I have had a chance to talk to a few people I had saved. Nothing was ever mentioned to me. I had a doctor die at the grocery store and the chain of survival worked perfectly. Early CPR and activation. We worked him 38 minutes and 7 shocks before pulses and spontaneous respiration. He and I are close friends and knew each other before hand. He didn’t remember collapsing or anything in between. He did remember the stretcher ride out of the store. He’s a religious man, and nothing to recall. Also a few cold water drowning victims revived. 45 minutes under water on a 12 year old girl. Karly remembers nothing but the initial struggle. I’ve heard a lot about NDE but never has a personal experience, although several come to mind that had good opportunity to be one.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. My biggest interest in these stories/experiences from people are — well, aside from the shared gratefulness for LIFE! — whether or not the NDE’s are all the same. IOW, is there really an “objective” standard (does everyone tell the same NDE story almost to exact details) where Moses, or Jesus, or Mohammed, or Buddha, or Thor, etc, greet them at “the light” with everyone else from “the light”? Or are they all different, every single one of them?

        This cumulative data would certainly go a long way to determining “objective” standards or subjective standards and experiences… all of them CHANGING with time and cultures. See where I’m going with this? 😉

        Liked by 4 people

        Reply

        3. I did have some after death experiences though. I responded to some Hispanic teenage girls that were in the fit of pánico hispánico after using a little Santeria, and they claim to have had a visitor. I believed them as Ativan was the only cure at the time. They were absolutely in a crazed panic. Not being totally familiar with the trade at the time, I had to use some superior detective work to get to the bottom of it. Candles in the room with a bible and statues, cards , beads and and crosses all in a darkened room. Not sure what kind of psychosis they conjured up in themselves, but it all appeared very real and inconsolable. Lol

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

          1. I have heard two conversion stories this month from acquaintances and they all have a common thread. Hopelessness and near death where impending doom was kicking-in that last ounce of fight or flight. Almost like a dream the way it was told. They were both conscious but talked like they were on autopilot with no control. Both gave credit to Jesus. I’ll check your links tonight. Thanks M

            Like

            Reply

  6. “And if the followers of god are trying to be like him, we are in for a world of vanity, jealousy, incoherence, weak communication, arrogance, ambiguity, murder, slavery, genocide, sugar coated contradiction, oppression, eternal torment, shifting morality, lying preachers, pious racism, land grabbing, famine, fear, guilt, and diplomatic tension.”

    Apparently these people are doing a great job! Maybe they should try to be less god like?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I think most are pretty good people, but when you look at the roots of what it’s all about, it isn’t what they say, and faith overrides any sense of reason. So much is promoting fear they forgot to show the love in the fable.

      Like

      Reply

      1. I agree, for the most part many are good people.

        Once you filter out the hypocrites.

        I have known many x-ians, few are truly good people. Mostly I see playacting on Sundays, and doing whatever the hell they want in between. Of course this is the south. Where it is still allright to diddle your sister in some states.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

            3. Mountain Man: What’s the matter, boy? I bet you can squeal. I bet you can squeal like a pig. Let’s squeal. Squeal now. Squeal. [Bobby’s ear is pulled]
              Bobby: Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
              Mountain Man: Squeal. Squeal louder. Louder. Louder, louder. Louder! Louder! Louder! Get down now, boy. There, get them britches down. That’s that. You can do better than that, boy. You can do better than that. Come on, squeal. Squeal.
              Mountain Man: Whatcha wanna do with him?
              Toothless Man: [grinning] He got a real pretty mouth, ain’t he?

              Like

Leave a comment