HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS
AND DYING PATIENTS
Challenges of a Secular Society
Panagiotis Pentaris
Goldsmiths-University of London, Faiths & Civil Society Unit-UK
http://gold.academia.edu/PanagiotisPentaris
http://panagiotispentaris4thanatology.wordpress.com/
Overview

Religious/ non-religious needs of dying patients,

Religious historiography in the UK and broader Europe,

Secularism,

Process to secularism,

Religious literacy in health care practice.
‘The goal of a quality comfortable death is achieved by
meeting a patient’s physical needs and by attending to the
social, psychological, and the now recognized spiritual and
religious dimensions of care’
Daaleman & VandeCreek 2000; p.2514
The growth of Secularism on the grounds of an Anglican Church
1905 - Present
Post-WWII
• Immigration
• Globalization
Ecumenism (19501970)
• Volunteerism
• Philanthropy
Thatcherism
(1979)
Religious
Historiography
Contradictions
with
secularism
Welfarism
Anglicanism  Religious Diversity  Secularity  Religious Pluralism
Interesting facts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DScmdOpOXSk

UK Census 2011 data
– 59.3% Christianity
– 4.8% Islam
– 25.2% No religion

Defining religion, spirituality and faith.
– ‘Patients have emotional and spiritual needs’ (End of Life Strategy 2008)
– ‘Spirituality is key to quality affairs’ (NIH)
– ‘religious people are referred to a church’ (Pentaris, n.d.)
Religious Literacy

Attitudes and understandings towards religious and/or non-religious beliefs,

Knowledge & skills.
Religious Literacy in Thanatological Practice (RLTP)
Awareness and understanding of religious plurality within health care practice,
comprehended knowledge that conveys the relationship between faith and the
experiences of death and bereavement, and individualistic willingness and
professional motivation for enhanced end of life or hospice care (i.e. thanatological
practice).
Conclusion

‘…if staff have the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes, it can be immensely
satisfying.’ – End of Life Strategy 2008 - UK

‘Spirituality is part of the basic human experience. Whenever we search for
meaning, or for a connection outside of ourselves, we are acting as spiritual beings.
Spirituality exists in our connection to other humans, our environment and the
unfolding universe beyond, and the transcendent.’ – Dr. Kreitzer [Center for
Spirituality and Healing]

Faith and hope are the greatest assets of the patient. Listening is the greatest asset
of the caregiver.
Conclusions
People only die once. What if we want to die in style,
while writing the final chapter of a book?
Questions & answers
Resources

Daaleman, T.P. & VandeCreek, L., 2000. Placing religion and spirituality in End-of-Life
care. JAMA, 284(19), pp.2514-2517

Pentaris, P. 2012. Religious competence in social work practice: The UK picture.
Social Work & Society, 10(2), pp.1-4

Swatos, W.H. & Christiano, K.L., 1999. Secularization theory: The course of a
concept. Sociology of Religion, 60(3), pp.209-228

National End of Life Care Programme
http://www.endoflifecare.nhs.uk/

Faiths & Civil Society Unit – Goldsmiths
http://www.gold.ac.uk/faithsunit/