Chronic Illness, Spirituality, and Healing Diverse Disciplinary, Religious, and Cultural Perspectives

This book examines the relationship between chronic illness, spirituality, and healing from interdisciplinary, multicultural, and interreligious perspectives. Contributors include professionals working in traditional, holistic and integrative clinical settings, as well as religious studies scholars and spiritual practitioners from diverse religious and cultural contexts. Authors consider how biomedical care might be blended with spiritual practice that attends to the well-being of people living with chronic conditions through the mind-body-spirit-environment relationship. The book is relevant to the disciplines of health care, spiritual care, and social services; religious studies, disability studies, and cultural studies; and to people living with chronic illnesses.

Michael Stoltzfus is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Valdosta State University, USA.

Rebecca Green is Assistant Professor of Nursing, Valdosta State University, USA.

Darla Schumm is Associate Professor of Religion, Hollins University, USA.

PART I: CHRONIC ILLNESS AND HEALING: AUGMENTING BIOMEDICAL CARE WITH SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
1. Spirituality, Chronic Illness, and Healing: Unique Challenges and Opportunities; Michael Stoltzfus Rebecca Green
2. Pathophysiologic Basis and Application of Spiritual Healing Practices in Chronic Illness; Ruth Stanley
3. Yoga and Chronic Illness; Amy Holte and Paul Mills
4. Beyond Coping: Spirituality and Filipina Transnationals with Experience of Breast Cancer; Ofelia O. Villero and Nancy J. Burke
5. Spiritual Direction as Psychospiritual Care for Women with Autoimmune Diseases; Kelly Arora
6. Origins and Applications of Music in Chronic Illness: Role of the Voice, Ancient Chant Scales, and Autonomic Nervous System; Ruth Stanley
PART II: CHRONIC ILLNESS: INTER-RELIGIOUS, CROSS-CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND NARRATIVE PERSPECTIVES
7. The Zen of Healing: Making Friends with Chronic Illness; Paula Arai
8. Heartbreak Hotei: Spirituality and Metabolic Syndrome; Christine James
9. The Role of Religious Beliefs, Practices, Symbols, and Metaphors on the Coping Strategies of Rare Disease Patients in Romania; Salomea Popoviciu, Ioan Popoviciu, Delia Birle, Serban Olah and Paul Negrut
10. Native American Issues with Diabetes; Lavonna Lea Lovern
11. Ifá Divination as a Method of Diagnosing and Treating Chronic Illnesses/Àmódi Among the Yoruba People; Akinmayowa Akin-Otiko
12. Curing the Sin-Sick Soul: Protestants and Mental Illness; Heather H. Vacek
13. In Spite Of: Reflecting on my Son's Pain and Suffering; Noel Boyle
14. Inanna's Way: A Personal Journey into the Underworld; Ruth Krall