Spiritual Care for Everyone? An Analysis of Personal and Organizational Differences in Perceptions of Religious Diversity among Spiritual Caregivers

J Health Care Chaplain. 2019 Jul-Sep;25(3):110-129. doi: 10.1080/08854726.2018.1556549. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Abstract

In multicultural and multifaith societies spiritual caregivers increasingly meet clients with diverse (non-)religious or spiritual orientations. We investigate how this religious and spiritual (R/S) diversity is dealt with by spiritual caregivers working in healthcare settings, the military, and prisons. Based on a survey among spiritual caregivers (n = 208) in a secularized, European country (The Netherlands), this study shows how spiritual caregivers' personal as well as organizational factors relate to attitudes to R/S diversity. Spiritual caregivers who draw from several religious traditions in their lives have more positive views on spiritual caregiving to patients with another R/S orientation than theirs than those drawing from none or a singular tradition. Furthermore, authorization by a religious or Humanistic institution seldom relates to how R/S diversity is perceived, but the position of spiritual caregivers within various organizational settings and the way in which spiritual caregivers work does.

Keywords: interfaith; multiple religious belonging; organization; religious diversity; Spiritual care.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attitude to Health*
  • Clergy / psychology
  • Clergy / statistics & numerical data
  • Cultural Diversity*
  • Humans
  • Netherlands
  • Religion*
  • Spiritual Therapies* / organization & administration
  • Spiritual Therapies* / psychology
  • Spiritual Therapies* / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires