Can you help me in this dilemma?

I would remember that God is in control, and remember that time is of the essence in surgery, and go ahead with the procedure.

Just so long as he or she wasn't a Jehovah's Witness, religious belief would not be an issue. But I would most certainly like to be able to chose between a highly respected surgeon and an average surgeon! No prizes for guessing which one of those two I'd prefer!

You question seems to be asking whether you should respect people of whatEVER religion (or no religion) -- and i have to reply, "Why not?"

Your surgeon's skill has nothing to do with religion or church.

If your concern is that your surgeon have wisdom and integrity, you should know that

there are perfectly honorable people of great integrity and wisdom, who belong to NO church or religion.

It seems to me that your concern should be, how good of a surgeon is s/he, and how much experience has s/he had with your particular type of surgery -- not what religion s/he belongs to (or doesn't belong to).

Do you worry about what religion your bus driver is? How about your lawyer, your milkman or mailman or policeman, or any of the thousand other people you meet and depend upon, every day?

I would feel very sorry for anyone who was so worried about peoples' differences --

We human beings are all much more ALIKE, than we are different.

Good luck --

~Gaia

If he's a highly trained atheist surgeon - you're asking what?

I don't see the problem if he's trained. A Christian doctor is just as good.

Of course atheists only believe in the one life so hopefully I'd continue it with his help.

To be honest, I don't see what you're going on about - do you think the religious faith of a doctor would effect how much effort they'd use in saving someone's life? Persecution complex?

Definitely they have the training and their experience and record shows it. Definitely. Just because they are non believers as long as they have the skills do it. It wouldn't matter to them about prayer now would it. But for a believer in faith it would matter that God watched over him this more time (smile) then he can turn his head. What do you think? Diplomatic enough?

Is he a good surgeon? Yes? Then I would let him. Why would religion enter into it? I wouldn't let a priest give me an appendectomy....

Edit: If my reply came across as a bit aggressive it wasn't meant to.

I wouldn't base it on his religious preference. His skill as a surgeon is much more important.

Absolutely. I would much rather have an atheist who doesn't give up then a Xian that would shrug and say, "Guess it's God's Will".

we meet many people everyday that help us even though they are not Christain. I for one, am a Christain but i do let people help me even if they are not Christain. the best thing to do is to try to convert them

Absolutely. One has nothing to do with the other.