Intersection Of Spirituality Research Articles

Intersections of spirituality, relationships, and music education: Applications of lessons from the Pixar film, Soul

How can music educators explore the intersections of spirituality, relationships, and music education? The purpose of this paper is to examine how the Pixar film, Soul, models the transformation that can occur when a music teacher embraces spirituality and the preciousness of everyday life both in and out of the classroom through experiences in spatiality, corporeality, temporality, and relationality. To explore the film’s implications, I use a conceptual model of spirituality from van der Merwe and Habron and a theoretical framework from Boyce-Tillman which explores ideas of eudaimonia, spirituality, and music education. The film’s protagonist, Joe Gardner, who evolves past his own ego and comes to share the joy of everyday experiences with a fearful student, may serve as a model for music educators who are seeking to find meaning in the daily life of music teaching and learning. Because discussing films seems so natural to our social experience, pondering how characters evolve and come to understand their purpose may help music teachers develop a deeper understanding of their own identity and interconnected relationships with students.

Spirituality and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code

This series of articles will explore the intersections of spirituality with the delivery of contemporary health care within a number of healthcare and nursing environments. This second article will set out and explore the Nursing and Midwifery Council code of professional conduct with regards to spiritual care, along with a tentative exploration of what ‘spiritual care’ looks like.

Spirituality and the healthcare assistant

This series of articles will explore the intersections of spirituality with the delivery of contemporary health care within a number of healthcare and nursing environments. This first article will set out and explore the reasons behind this series, the various meanings and definitions of spirituality and the similarities and differences between spirituality and religion.

The intersection of spirituality and succession in family firms: a systematic literature review and research agenda

The intersection of spirituality and succession in family firms: a systematic literature review and research agenda

Spirituality and Quality of Life among Parents of Adolescents with Spina Bifida.

In this investigational cross-sectional study, we explored the relationships among caregiver burden, depressive symptoms, spirituality, and quality of life (QOL) in 58 parental caregivers of adolescents with spina bifida (SB). A hierarchical linear regression analysis provided evidence that depressive symptoms and caregiver burden were negatively related to QOL scores, but spirituality was positively related. We found a significant interaction between caregiver burden and spirituality, suggesting that spirituality moderates the relationship between caregiver burden and quality of life. The negative effect of caregiver burden on QOL decreased as spirituality increased. These results warrant further research into how caregiver burden and spirituality intersect and impact QOL in parental caregivers of adolescents with SB.

Ethical Decision-Making at Intersections of Spirituality and Music Therapy in End-of-Life Care

Abstract Music therapists in end-of-life care settings are commonly requested by patients to self-disclose their spiritual beliefs and to participate in explicit spiritual practices or rituals. Four potential courses of action available to music therapists will be framed using an integrative ethical decision-making model in context of the American Music Therapy Association Code of Ethics. Stakeholdership, moderating obligations, and ethical values are concepts integral to this examination, providing music therapists dynamic constructs to continuously utilize when determining effective, culturally responsive ethical decisions. Specific ethical principles and codes are provided for additional points of reference, and recommendations are provided to guide future explorations into the ethical dimensions of music therapy and spirituality.

Spiritual leadership development: An exemplar protocol

The nexus of spirituality and leadership infuses many leadership theories. However, there is a gap in our understanding regarding how organizations integrate spirituality with leadership development. This article makes a significant contribution to understanding the intersection of spirituality and leadership development by examining a specific facilitation protocol. It is a natural bookend to the seminal article titled “Spirituality for Business Leadership: Reporting on a pilot course for MBA’s and CEO’s” in which André shared his first attempt at such work. In contrast, the protocol discussed in this article has been refined by André’s continued leadership and practice in this area. As well, this protocol was designed and implemented as a formal leadership development initiative within an organization. In this paper, we begin with a literature review on spiritual leadership development: the intersection of spirituality, leadership and learning; the primacy of contemplative practice; and the importance of structure. Second, we describe a leadership development program design that explicitly integrates spirituality. Finally, we discuss the implications of this protocol for future practice and research on spiritual leadership development.

Sport, Spirituality, and Religion: New Intersections

Sport, religion, and spirituality intersect in diverse ways. As the body of interdisciplinary scholarly work addressing these intersections increases, more questions and insights are being generated, as evidenced in this collection. Five themes that arise in this Special Issue of Religions are identified and explored. Examples from each article are used to develop these themes. To whet the reader’s appetite, thought-provoking reflections are offered in this introduction to “Sport, Spirituality, and Religion: New Intersections and Global Challenges.”

Tracing the Landscape: Re-Enchantment, Play, and Spirituality in Parkour

Parkour, along with “free-running”, is a relatively new but increasingly ubiquitous sport with possibilities for new configurations of ecology and spirituality in global urban contexts. Parkour differs significantly from traditional sports in its use of existing urban topography including walls, fences, and rooftops as an obstacle course/playground to be creatively navigated. Both parkour and “free-running”, in their haptic, intuitive exploration of the environment retrieve an enchanted notion of place with analogues in the religious language of pilgrimage. The parkour practitioner or traceur/traceuse exemplifies what Michael Atkinson terms “human reclamation”—a reclaiming of the body in space, and of the urban environment itself—which can be seen as a form of playful, creative spirituality based on “aligning the mind, body, and spirit within the environmental spaces at hand”. This study will subsequently examine parkour at the intersection of spirituality, phenomenology, and ecology in three ways: (1) As a returning of sport to a more “enchanted” ecological consciousness through poeisis and touch; (2) a recovery of the lost “play-element” in sport (Huizinga); and (3) a recovery of the human body attuned to our evolutionary past.

Depression in African American and Black Caribbean Youth and the Intersection of Spirituality and Religion: Clinical Opportunities and Considerations.

This article reviews the risk and protective factors, symptom presentation, and the significant interface of spirituality and religion of depression in African American and black Caribbean children and adolescents and their families. The article provides practical implications for diagnosis and treatment of depression in this special population of youth.

Spirituality and Tourism in Japanese Pilgrimage Sites

Contemporary society understands spirituality as an individualized "quest of self-discovery and reflection" that combines eclectic elements, while disregarding traditional religious organizations. This social context has shaped how sacred sites are managed and promoted in tourism, as well as tourist motivation and behaviour. Still, the information on religious and spiritual-related tourism remains Euro-centric, although around half of an estimated 600 million religious and spiritual travels take place in Asia and the Pacific (UNWTO 2011). In order to contribute to studies on the area, the purpose of this article is to explore the intersection of spirituality and tourism in a non-Western pilgrimage site utilizing the three categories of Olsen (2015) to interpret and organize research materials in a coherent format. The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails in Japan were selected as case study. Results showed a variety of Japanese-specific research materials related to contemporary spirituality and tourism that still draw some parallels to the West. Following Olsen's categories, the case study showed mainly elements from spiritual tourism, with some from New Age tourism as well. Wellness was a particularly emphasized characteristic. Further research is suggested to develop Olsen's categorization and to deepen the study of non-Western tourism contexts of contemporary spirituality in different areas.

Sufism and healing

ABSTRACTThe aspect of individual patient experience in health care has taken on greater role in contemporary times. Due to an increasingly diverse patient population, medical professionals are encountering individuals who utilize other forms of healing practices in addition to allopathic models of care. This is particularly relevant in mental health care, where concepts of “healing,” “well-being,” and “wellness” come to fore. This article examines the Islamic concept of Sufism, tasawwuf, and how concepts such as dhikr (recitation) and knowing one’s self can be overlayed to psychological principles of mindfulness and self-efficacy—showcasing the intersection of spirituality and mental health.

State of the Science of Spirituality and Palliative Care Research Part II: Screening, Assessment, and Interventions

The State of the Science in Spirituality and Palliative Care was convened to address the current landscape of research at the intersection of spirituality and palliative care and to identify critical next steps to advance this field of inquiry. Part II of the SOS-SPC report addresses the state of extant research and identifies critical research priorities pertaining to the following questions: 1) How do we assess spirituality? 2) How do we intervene on spirituality in palliative care? And 3) How do we train health professionals to address spirituality in palliative care? Findings from this report point to the need for screening and assessment tools that are rigorously developed, clinically relevant, and adapted to a diversity of clinical and cultural settings. Chaplaincy research is needed to form professional spiritual care provision in a variety of settings, and outcomes assessed to ascertain impact on key patient, family, and clinical staff outcomes. Intervention research requires rigorous conceptualization and assessments. Intervention development must be attentive to clinical feasibility, incorporate perspectives and needs of patients, families, and clinicians, and be targeted to diverse populations with spiritual needs. Finally, spiritual care competencies for various clinical care team members should be refined. Reflecting those competencies, training curricula and evaluation tools should be developed, and the impact of education on patient, family, and clinician outcomes should be systematically assessed.

A Critical Analysis of Systemic Influences on Spiritual Development for LGBTQ+ Youth

There is an extensive need to explore the intersection of spirituality in conjunction with sexuality, gender identity, and affectional identity as a result of the nuanced complexity and paucity of conceptual and empirical literature in this area, which holds to a substantial diversity between and within identities. Furthering this exploration is the consistent dialogue of spirituality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community that offers context at-large and in heavy concentration in other areas of the life span, yet integrates far less into spirituality for youth and, more specifically, for LGBTQ+ youth. This article generates a conceptual framework derived from the ecological systems model and intersectionality theory to deliver insights relevant to addressing systemic barriers, practices, and complexities in attending to spirituality for LGBTQ+ youth.

State of the Science of Spirituality and Palliative Care Research Part I: Definitions, Measurement, and Outcomes

The State of the Science in Spirituality and Palliative Care was convened to address the current landscape of research at the intersection of spirituality and palliative care and to identify critical next steps to advance this field of inquiry. Part I of the SOS-SPC two-part series focuses on questions of 1) What is spirituality? 2) What methodological and measurement issues are most salient for research in palliative care? And 3) What is the evidence relating spirituality and health outcomes? After describing current evidence we make recommendations for future research in each of the three areas of focus. Results show wide variance in the ways spirituality is operationalized and the need for definition and conceptual clarity in research in spirituality. Furthermore, the field would benefit from hypothesis-driven outcomes research based on a priori specification of the spiritual dimensions under investigation and their longitudinal relationship with key palliative outcomes, the use of validated measures of predictors and outcomes, and rigorous assessment of potential confounding variables. Finally, results highlight the need for research in more diverse populations.

Alternative Visions for Pastoral Work with LGBTQ Individuals, Families, and Communities: A Response.

Multiple theological perspectives provide frameworks for pastoral work with lesbian, gay, bisesxual and trans individuals, families, and communities. One model is offered by those who argue for celibacy or heterosexual marriages for those who self-identify as part of LGBTQ communities. This article names other theologically grounded perspectives with the goal of inviting practitioners to broaden their understandings and wrestle with the implications of their theological and ethical stances. When reflecting on the intersection of spirituality and sexuality, the meaning of theological terms such as sin, contributions from queer theologians and pastoral counselors, and the limitations of binary categories common in our theological history, this article encourages pastoral counselors and spiritual care providers to re-examine theological assumptions they bring to their work. The article ends with questions and opportunities for ongoing pastoral theological work and reflection.

Navigating Conflicts Related to Religious and Non-Religious Identity on Campus

Matters of interreligious engagement and worldview orientation are becoming more salient on campuses across the country. All-comers policies, conflicts about the Middle East, and intersections of spirituality with other aspects of identity present challenges for professionals working with students on college campuses. This article will discuss some of the intricacies to addressing conflict around religious identity on campus, focusing on the importance of building relationships across disagreement.

Dealing With Major Life Events and Transitions: A Systematic Literature Review on and Occupational Analysis of Spirituality

This systematic literature review analyzed the construct of spirituality as perceived by people who have experienced or are experiencing a major life event or transition. The researchers investigated studies that used narrative analysis or a phenomenological methodology related to the topic. Thematic analysis resulted in three major themes: (1) avenues to and through spirituality, (2) the experience of spirituality, and (3) the meaning of spirituality. The results provide insights into the intersection of spirituality, meaning, and occupational engagement as understood by people experiencing a major life event or transition and suggest further research that addresses spirituality in occupational therapy and interdisciplinary intervention.

Imagining Jesus, with food

This article applies modern, cross-cultural, anthropologically-grounded food data to the historical Jesus. It explores five themes that have emerged from my research on the intersection of spirituality and food in contemporary life, across religions: food offerings, dietary restrictions, fasting, food prepared for special religious occasions, and charity. The analysis brings together previous historical-critical research on Christian origins and current research on food in order to shed new light on the role of food in a first century Jewish person’s life. The result is a more human, possibly more historically-realistic, portrait of Jesus in keeping with broad sectors of religious life across traditions.

Back to the future: The AMA and religion, 1961-1974.

U.S. medical scholarship and education regarding religion and spirituality has been growing rapidly in recent years. This rising interest, however, is not new; it is a renewal of significant interweavings that date back to the mid-20th century. In this Perspective, the authors draw attention to the little-known history of organized medicine's engagement with religion from 1961 to 1974. Relying on primary source documents, they recount the dramatic rise and fall of the Committee on Medicine and Religion (CMR) at the American Medical Association (AMA). At its height, there were state-level committees on medicine and religion in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and there were county-level committees in over 800 county medical societies. Thousands of physicians attended annual conferences for clinicians and clergy, and direct outreach to patients included a film viewed by millions. The CMR arose in the context of rapid medical advances, the growth of professional chaplaincy, and concern for declining "humanism" in medicine-conditions with parallels in medicine today. The CMR was brought to a puzzling end in 1972 by the AMA's Board of Trustees. The authors argue that this termination was linked to the AMA's long and contentious debate on abortion. They conclude with the story's significance for today's explorations of the intersection of spirituality, religion, and medicine, focusing on the need for mutual respect, transparency, and dialogue around the needs of patients and physicians.