1. Panagiotis Pentaris Goldsmiths-University of London, Faiths & Civil Society Unit-UK http://gold.academia.edu/PanagiotisPentaris http://panagiotispentaris4thanatology.wordpress.com/ HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND DYING PATIENTS Challenges of a Secular Society

2.  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. Overview

3. ‘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

4. Post-WWII Immigration Globalization Ecumenism (1950- 1970) Volunteerism Philanthropy Thatcherism (1979) Welfarism Contradictions with secularism Religious Historiography The growth of Secularism on the grounds of an Anglican Church 1905 - Present Anglicanism  Religious Diversity  Secularity  Religious Pluralism

5.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DScmdOpOXSk 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.) Interesting facts

6.  Attitudes and understandings towards religious and/or non-religious beliefs,  Knowledge & skills. Religious Literacy

7. 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). Religious Literacy in Thanatological Practice (RLTP)

8.  ‘…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. Conclusion

9. People only die once. What if we want to die in style, while writing the final chapter of a book? Conclusions

10. Questions & answers

11.  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/ http://www.endoflifecare.nhs.uk/  Faiths & Civil Society Unit – Goldsmiths http://www.gold.ac.uk/faithsunit/ http://www.gold.ac.uk/faithsunit/ Resources