Hans Raun Iversen (long-time head of the Church Research Center at the University of Copenhagen and honorary doctorate at Uppsala University) in his last book “Diverse faith and pastoral care” discus the understanding of the “multiple” human being and the implications for understanding religion and belief as a multiple meaning systems orientation.
Anja Visser Nierath, the University of Groningen, will tell us about the research in Spiritual Care / Chaplaincy in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, there is a long tradition of talking about Spiritual Care with an understanding that points to the concept of “multiplicity” introduced by Hans Raun Iversen (and co-author Christine Tind Johannesen-Henry).
Heidi Frølund, Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, will respond to Hans’ presentation. Professor of Spiritual Care, Niels Christian Hvidt, SDU, has agreed to respond on Anja’s presentation.
The form will be 20-minute presentations and 40-minute discussions with the respondents opening the joint discussion, but of course, everybody will get the opportunity to ask questions or comment in his or her prefers language.
Multiplicity in Existential Orientation
Most things in life are multiple, with several layers or folds. Academic literature talks about “multiple realities”, “multiple modernities”, “multiple selves”, “multiple objects” and “multiple faiths”.
When it comes to existential orientation, psychologists and theologians, however, seem to agree, that integration and wholeness are what we should go for. In Faith and Health-Studies we have talked about focusing as a key to strength. Do we neglect that most people have to live with existential fragmentation and multiple cross-pressures in their worldviews?
Multiplicity of goal orientations: Research on chaplaincy in the Netherland
In the Netherlands, chaplaincy is becoming available to all residents, both in institutions and at home. This shifting landscape asks for a reorientation on the contribution of chaplaincy to people and to society.
Anja examines how chaplains define their position and role in the Dutch care-landscape. How do they shape their work outside of institutions?
How do they position themselves in relation to other players in care? What do they consider see as their contribution to the functioning of people and organisations? How might this shape chaplaincy education and organisation in the Netherlands?
