Spirituality

Abstract

Spirituality and religion are terms in common use and yet there is no agreed upon definition. At times, the terms are used interchangeably, and at other times, one is seen as the larger concept. In the past decades, religion was considered as the larger concept. However, that thinking has changed in recent years and at present spirituality is considered the larger concept with religion as an aspect of spirituality. It is now believed that an individual’s spirituality and/or religion play an important role in their health, with increasing importance at times of chronic, severe, or terminal illness. In the healthcare settings, especially in hospitals, the role of chaplains has become increasingly important as the impact of patients’ spirituality and/or religion on the course of, and recovery from, illness is better understood by healthcare professionals and administrators. Throughout much of the twentieth century, chaplains worked almost exclusively with patients admitted to the hospitals. However, in the last two decades, the chaplain’s role has evolved from providing spiritual care not only to patients but also to their caregivers and members of the healthcare teams. In recent years, a further role for chaplains has evolved, in that chaplains have moved outside of the healthcare settings and into the larger community that the hospitals serve. This has come full circle from the time that lay clergy visited their congregants during their hospitalization to the present day when chaplains from hospitals go out to provide access to care by interacting with members of the clergy and their congregants.