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Spirituality
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- Involves the personal quest for meaning and purpose in life and relates to the inner essence of the self
- Reflects seeking a sense of harmonious inter-connectedness with self, others, nature, and a Supreme Being
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Religion
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A personal set or institutionalized system of
religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
(Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, http://209.161.33.50/dictionary/religion, accessed 3/12/07)
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For the purpose of this lecture, we are using the terms “spirituality” and “religion” interchangeably.
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Why Now?
Surveys of the US Public in the Gallop Report consistently show:
- High prevalence of belief in God – 90%
- 84% claim religion is important in their lives
- 77% of patients would like to have their spiritual issues dealt with in medical care
- Less than 20% physicians currently discuss such issues.
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In a Gallup Poll May 2-4, 2004, 90% said they believed in God; 81% believed in Heaven; 78% in Angels; 70% in Hell; and 70% in the Devil.
In a CBS poll April 6-9, 2006, 82% said they believe in God and 9% in a Universal Spirit.
26% said religious was extremely important, 33% said very important and 26% somewhat important.
In Aug. 2006, researchers asked 100 Americans aged 99 years or older about the secret of their longevity. Nearly a quarter (23%) credited their faith and spirituality to their longevity.
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Historical Background
- Medicine and religion have worked in a collaborative relationship to promote healing for thousands of years
- By the 5th century AD, virtually all physicians were drawn from clergy in the monastic communities
- Secular medicine emerged in the late middle ages, but was still under control of church
- 1140 AD church granted first medical licenses, conditions, and revocations
- 1789, the French Revolution, marked the breakdown of religious control over medicine
- Cartesian: separation of mind and body
- As science began to discover the etiology of diseases, former religious explanations no longer held
- Science and medicine began to distance themselves from religion
- During past century, modern medicine influenced by advances in medical science
- In 1980, George Engel attempted to include the psychosocial factors when providing medical care
- Since that time, there has been an explosion of interest in psychosocial issues in medicine and the biopsychosocial model has been widely taught
- In 1986, Hiatt proposed expanding the model to biopsychosocial-spiritual
- In 1990s, Templeton Foundation influenced curricular development of spirituality in medicine
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During the past century, modern medicine has been influenced by medical technology. This biomedical model has led to patients feeling alienated from their physician’s humanity. In spite of this trend, it is important to remember that medicine developed in religious context and that medicine and religion have worked in a collaborative relationship to promote healing for thousands of years.
Secular medicine emerged in the late middle ages, but was still under the control of the church. The French Revolution marked the breakdown of religious control over medicine.
The French philosopher René Descartes introduced the concept of dualism-mind’s control over the body.
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Last Published: 6/23/2008 Print this page
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