Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
SP50150 Spirituality and religion |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: To enable students:
* to recognise basic variations and interpretations in the place of death in world religions * to recognise, and understand why the teaching of any one religion about death varies between societies and over time * to attain a comprehensive understanding of how religious and spiritual discourses are changing in western society and in health care * to understand how cultural, national, political and organisational contexts shape new discourses * to have a critically awareness of inter-professional conflicts over ownership of 'spiritual care' * to conceptualise personal experiences - such as nearing death awareness and relationships with the dead - that may not be recognised by medicine or religion. * to critically evaluate the various new ways in which the term 'spirituality' is employed, both within and outside health care. Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to: * Demonstrate a critical understanding of the relation of religious teachings about death to everyday practice and experience * Understand and interpret the social factors that influence contemporary discourses of spirituality * Critically evaluate the languages used to describe multi-dimensional pain. * Analyse the relation between experiences around death and the languages used to describe them. Skills: * Develop skills to critically reflect on the suitability of diverse approaches for investigating and analysing problems. * Systematically synthesise information from a variety of distinct perspectives for a relevant understanding of theoretical and practical approaches. * Identify and access relevant information sources. * Communicate complex issues and perspectives effectively. * Develop skills of time management, workload prioritisation and related planning skills. * Develop good writing and presentation skills. Content: 1. Death, religion, and culture 2. From religion to spirituality 3. Death in world religions 4. Case study: death and Hinduism 5. Afterlife beliefs and society 6. Nearing death awareness and near death experiences 7. Ghosts and ancestors 8. Shamans and mediums 9. Critical assessment of concepts of spirituality in contemporary health care: i) cultural, national, political, institutional determinants 10. Critical assessment of concepts of spirituality in contemporary health care: ii) multi-dimensional pain, spiritual need, biographical pain. |