Moving Beyond Spiritual Assessments: A Dynamic, Augustinian Approach to Spiritual Care of the Dying

Abstract

ABSTRACT Spiritual assessment tools (SATs) have become fundamentally integrated into contemporary pastoral care, objectifying spirituality in a way that does little to appreciate its fluidity and dynamicity. In this paper, I use St. Augustine’s theology to argue that spirituality is dynamic and fluctuating, involving continuous movement and growth. To show that SATs cannot insightfully comprehend the spiritual experiences of the terminally ill, I first draw upon St. Augustine’s analysis of time, which accentuates that spirituality cannot be quantified. I then articulate St. Augustine’s account of divine deification, which shows that spirituality is comprised of incessant ascent and descent. I conclude by proposing a narrative chaplaincy approach that draws upon St. Augustine’s account of time and memory. By viewing spirituality through an Augustinian lens and implementing a dynamic narrative approach, chaplains can help instill a sense of peace in the terminally ill and cherish each patient’s fluid spiritual experiences.