Fine Line Between Respect and Religious Cosplay
In chaplaincy, we talk a lot about dignity and autonomy—how we respect each patient’s beliefs and provide care that honors their spiritual needs. It’s a core value of the work we do. But sometimes, in an effort to be “inclusive,” we cross a line that isn’t actually respectful at all.
I see this happen when chaplains or spiritual care providers engage in religious cosplay—offering prayers or rituals that don’t align with their own faith just to make a patient feel “included.”
For example, I’ve heard of chaplains leading prayers to Ganesha for patients who aren’t even Hindu. I’ve witnessed chaplains offering Islamic blessings when neither they aren’t Muslim. And of course, I’ve experienced firsthand the expectation that I should “just go along with it” for the sake of the moment.
But let’s be clear: that’s not patient-centered care. That’s performative. And it’s disrespectful to both the patient and the religious tradition being imitated.
True Spiritual Support Isn’t About Pretending
Here’s the reality: I can respect your beliefs without violating my own.
I can hold space for you, support you in your faith, and make sure your spiritual needs are met—without pretending to be something I’m not.
Because dignity in chaplaincy isn’t about performance. It’s about presence.
Honoring a patient’s autonomy means asking:
How do YOU connect to the divine?
What’s meaningful for YOU in this moment?
How can I help YOU practice your faith?
What it doesn’t mean is co-opting someone else’s tradition for the sake of perceived inclusivity.
Respecting Beliefs Without Compromising Our Own
Let’s flip this around for a second.
If a chaplain who didn’t believe in Jesus started praying to Him just to “be inclusive,” how would that feel to a Christian patient? Likely hollow, inauthentic, and downright even offensive.
So why would we assume that patients of other faiths want us to mimic their prayers?
Real dignity comes from empowering patients to practice their own faith—not from us pretending to share it.
So instead of stepping into the role of religious actor, we should be facilitators:
Calling the right faith leader when needed
Providing resources for their religious tradition
Holding space for their emotions and spiritual processing
Encouraging them to express their faith in ways that feel authentic to them
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, chaplaincy is about presence, not performance.
We serve patients best when we honor their beliefs without compromising our own—because true dignity and autonomy aren’t about saying the “right” words. They’re about showing up with integrity, respect, and a willingness to truly listen.
And that’s the kind of care that makes a real difference.