People of Faith Facing The Dilemma of Illness and Death

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People of Faith Facing The Dilemma of Illness and
Death

• Chaplain Carlos F. Woodard, Th.D.

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Facing Terminal Illness

• Regardless of a persons profession of faith or
  religion terminal illness is universal. It is
  devastating. It can cause stress, shock, and
  shake the equilibrium of the person who has it.
• Once a terminal illness is discovered the first
  helpful thing for that person experiencing the
  illness is to obtain as much information as
  possible about the illness.
• DO NOT BE BASHFUL ask questions, questions,
  questions, etc. Take notes, if necessary. Also,
  consider a second opinion.

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• A person with terminal illness will touch
  everyone who cares about them.
• For some people of faith any illness is not
  acceptable. To acknowledge the illness is to
  diminish or reduce ones faith.
• Terminal illness has challenged some people of
  faith to believe that the disease is due to
  certain actions or deed.

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• When a terminally ill person of faith believes
  their illness is due to certain acts or deed they
  become a victim of Ambush theology.
• Ambush theology implies God is out to get you.
  This is not true.

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• Illness can be conceptualized as irreparable loss
  or damage.
• Illness can be conceptualized as a enemy.
• Illness can be conceptualized as a challenge.
• Illness can be conceptualized as strategy.
• Illness can be conceptualized as a relief.
• Illness can be conceptualized as punishment.
  (Lipowski, 1979).

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• In the mist of all of the competing
  interpretations of illness, the ill person must
  cope or adjust with how to live with the disease
  as it follows its own pathology.
• Terminal illness is medical terminology used to
  describe an active and malignant disease which
  cannot be cured and is expected to lead to death.

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• Death that comes through illness is not as
  acceptable for some faith or religious traditions
  as a death that is perceived as normal.
• Death is a ambiguous term. The ending of life is
  one thing, and the condition of having life over
  is another. Death can refer to either.

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Can Suffering be Evil?

• Suffering from an illness does not imply evil.
• Suffering can bring benefits (Sponheim, 2000).
• Suffering can be good or bad theology.
• It is not good for someone else to interpret your
  suffering.
• What sounds like a profound truth to one sufferer
  may be seen as a pious platitude, or worse, by
  another (Sponheim, 2000).

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• Suffering has the power to influence.
• Suffering makes one experience pain.
• Suffering does not enhance character nor does it
  earn people a higher position in the life
  hereafter it can lead to a miserable life and
  needless distress in all who see helpless dying
  people suffering.
• Human suffering has been assigned with sin.

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Does Your Faith Require Suffering?

• The Holy Bible in New Testament scriptures makes
  much of redemptive suffering starting with the
  life and teachings of Jesus.
• Redemptive suffering according to the Roman
  Catholic belief is that human suffering, when
  accepted and offered up in union with the Passion
  of Jesus, can remit the just punishment for one's
  sins or for the sins of another.

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• Roman Catholicism further states like an
  indulgence, redemptive suffering does not gain
  the individual forgiveness for their sin
  forgiveness results from Gods grace, freely
  given through Christ, which cannot be earned.
  After one's sins are forgiven, the individual's
  suffering can reduce the penalty due for sin.
• Protestant Christianity embraces forgiveness
  similar to Catholicism in that it is given by
  faith in Jesus Christ after confession of sin.

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• Protestant Christianity teaches grace is granted
  by both God and Jesus Christ.
• Source Catholicism and Protestant Christianity.
  Chaplain C.F. Woodard. 2007.
• The Jewish tradition on health and suffering
  teaches that suffering is therefore not seen as a
  judgment from God, since all of us are mortal. 
  Rather it is a by-product of the illness and
  anything that can be done to ease the suffering
  of the patient is highly recommended.
• Source University of Virginia Chaplaincy
  Services and Pastoral Education 2007.

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• In the Islamic tradition suffering through
  illness is not promoted as practice. Muslims
  perform prayers five times a day.  A sick person
  is allowed to combine noon and afternoon, and
  sunset and evening prayer.  If conditions permit,
  washing is required. The Prayer rug and the Koran
  must not be touched by anyone ritually unclean
  (e.g., with blood or urine on hand), and it is
  preferable that nothing should be placed on top
  of it-   

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• For persons on bed rest only symbolic ablution
  (known as tayammum) is sufficient.  Provision of
  privacy is important, especially for the female
  during prayer.
• Source University of Virginia Chaplaincy
  Services and Pastoral Education. 2007.

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• In the Buddhist practice the goal is to develop
  the mind to its fullest potential which involves
  the perfection of compassion and wisdom. 
  Spiritual well-being involves developing a
  compassionate mind and working with the suffering
  of illness and death in a maximally optimal way.
  Buddhist clergy, as well as lay practitioners are
  available to assist those who are interested in
  these practices.
• Source University of Virginia Chaplaincy
  Services and Pastoral Education. 2007.

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• Hinduism ascribes to the theory of Karma (the law
  of cause and effect).  Each individual creates
  his or her own destiny by thoughts, words, and
  deeds.  Illness, accident, and injury result from
  the karma one creates and are seen as a means of
  purification. 
• Karma is believed to accrue over many
  lifetimes.  Hence, an illness may be seen as a
  result of actions in this life or a past life.
• Source University of Virginia Chaplaincy
  Services and Pastoral Education. 2007.

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How do we make sense out of Suffering?

• With all the various interpretations both
  religious and non-religious on illness and
  suffering the focus should be on the person first
  and foremost.
• Friendship and hope can help the person dealing
  with their illness and distress.
• Define the person apart from the illness
  (Swinton, 2000).

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• Swinton suggests there are five key attitudes
  that should be present in offering friendship and
  hope as follows
• Empathy
• Unconditional positive regard
• Respect
• Warmth
• Commitment and caring

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Spirituality and ReligionHow can both help?

• Spirituality is a way of living that arises from
  an appreciation of human life (Coll, 1994).
• Confucianism stresses being spiritual and not
  being religious.
• Spiritual development comes after physical
  emotional and mental development.

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• Religion with spirituality helps the person dying
  to look at their values, creeds, tradition, etc.,
  in seeking to enrich their life in being
  relational with God.
• Religion can become sick when one practices
  religiosity.
• There is a saying if youve been met by a
  religious legalist dont give up, Look up.

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• Ethnic (Language)  and Cultural Sensitivity 
  Varies within same religious group however,
  understanding the person and their spiritual
  background is important for providing support.
• Spirituality is the safe ground to dialogue with
  anyone seeking to understand their own
  spirituality or lack thereof and how that
  relates to their view of death.

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Final Words on Dying

• In the book A time to live by Barbara Karnes pg.
  9. She states. Dying is very sad, but it doesnt
  have to be bad. Remember, no where is it
  written how long life will be-three months, three
  years, thirty years or three-hundred years! There
  will never be enough time to do all that we wish
  to do or say. It will never be OK to die. So
  dont expect acceptance. We can however reach an
  understanding an understanding that everyone
  dies, including ourselves. With that
  understanding, perhaps we can accept our gift-our
  gift of time.