Religion, Spirituality and Clinical Practice

Larry Burton, Th.D.

Spring 2012

Email:  laburton@ualr.edu

Text:  501-551-5488

Description

            Gallup Polls have documented the fact that Americans are a pretty religious people, with up to 95% of Americans stating that they believe in God.  Further, contemporary neuroscience suggests that practices such as contemplative meditation can alter the brain.  Does this have any relevance for clinical practice?  This course will examine (1) ways of understanding spirituality and religion from the perspective of psychology and sociology,  (2) scientific research about the relationship between spirituality and the brain, and (3) practical and ethical implications of including spirituality and religion as a potential element of clinical medical practice. Here are just a few of the questions we will ask:  “Should religion be included as part of the context of medical care?”  “What should we do when a physician’s religion—or lack of religion—conflicts with that of a patient?”  “How far should we go in honoring a patient’s religious wishes when delivering care?”  “What about spiritual ideas such as forgiveness, compassion, and hope?”

 Resources

Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom by Rick Hanson.  

How God Changes Your Brain by Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman

The Healing Power of Faith by Harold Koenig

Handbook of Religion and Health by Harold Koenig, Michael McClullough, and David Larson

 Medicine, Religion, and Health: Where Science and Spirituality Meet  by Harold G. Koenig

 Healing Logics: Culture and Medicine in Modern Health Belief Systems by Erika Brady

 Course Format and Requirements

          While there will be reading for the class, it is attendance and participation that make the class work.  Allowances are made for students who have residency interviews or other academic commitments.  Class will begin January 18^th and run through April 11^th (12 weeks) and will meet in Suite 500 of the Freeway Medical Center 6-8 pm. 

 Class Sessions

1. Introduction to spirituality/religion in clinical practice

2. The nature of belief systems Reading Assignment for 2^nd Class:  http://web.engr.oregonstate.edu/~funkk/Personal/worldview.html

Write a 1-2 page paper about your own spirituality, including your early memories/training, issues you may have with spirituality/religion, how you think your spirituality affects your everyday and professional life.

3. Spirituality and the Brain.  Is there a “God gene?”  How does spirituality/religion affect the brain?

4. Spiritual practices: what are they, can they be integrated into clinical practice, how might they serve physicians personally?

5. Religion and human development  Reading Assignment for 5^rd class: http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Varieties%20of%20Religoius%20Development_JPSP.pdf

6. Can we distinguish between healthy and unhealthy religion?  Read: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/255758

Conversion, cults, and compassion.

7. Spiritual “virtues:” Compassion

8. Spiritual “virtues:”  Forgiveness
9. Spiritual “virtues:” Hope

10. Prayer and healing Assignment for 8^th class: http://onlinesurgicaltechniciancourses.com/2010/25-intriguing-scientific-studies-about-faith-prayer-and-healing/ and this one:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090617154401.htm

11. Approaches to including religion/spirituality in clinical practice: models for spiritual assessment/histories; practice in obtaining a spiritual history.

12. Wrap-up