SOC 490-2 Week 6

This week in class we discussed the relationship of healthcare and religion/spirituality. To start, I will discuss what religion and spirituality is. Spirituality is “an integrative energy that ‘encompasses all aspects of human being and is a means of experiencing life.’” People usually look at spirituality in the means of nature or animals, or in relationships with themselves, others, or a divine being. Religion is the “practical expression of spirituality,” that usually takes place in organizations, with rituals, and in the practice of one’s beliefs.

“Spirituality is not meant to be separate from the body… Sickness and aging represent the body’s inability to reach its natural goal, which is to join the mind in perfection and fulfillment,” says Dr. Deepak Chopra in Ageless Body, Timeless Mind. Spirituality is said to have an impact on one’s health for many people across the world. For years, way before we had any medications and technology, people have turned to spirituality and religion to help them get better, and well as with concerns about health and illness. Studies have shown that people who engage in spirituality and religion can help to not only prevent illness, but to also live a “longer life, more hopefulness, less depression, healthier lifestyles, longer marriages, and an expanded social network.” (Koenig)

A major part of spirituality is a person finding their meaning in life and the experiences that come along with it. With this said, spirituality can help people who are seriously, chronically, or even moderately ill connect with that process of finding meaning and come to terms with their illness. Not only that, but Rhi tells us “religious cultures are the most powerful factors that modify the individual’s attitudes toward life, death, happiness, and suffering.”

While religion and spirituality aid in a person’s wholeness and health, it can also have a negative affect when it comes to treatment. Some people, because of their religion, will refuse treatments and preventive health measures, have extreme guilt and marrow-mindedness, as well as isolate themselves from loved ones, and have extremely high expectations for themselves. From the standpoint of someone who has worked in a hospital, and wishes to do so after graduating college, I can find this harmful. Many patients, or people, will not take prenatal precautions, will not give there children immunizations, will refuse transplants of any kind, and so on. For most healthcare professionals, this can be frustrating.

Seeing has I have never really been a religious or spiritual person, I do not have much to say about my view on the subject matter pertaining to health. But one thing I can say, is that since I have been in Italy, as I mentioned in a previous blog, I have been, more religious, I can say. I have seen numerous churches, and have prayed more in the past month and a half than I have in the past, lets say 10 years. I do not want to say that before I came here I was not happy with myself, or I was not healthy, but since I have started to have a better connection with God, and myself, I have felt better. I would like to say more on this subject matter now, but I will leave that for another blog, where that is actually the topic!