Is Evidence Based Spiritual Care an Oxymoron?

Jameso'connor, Thomas St.

Thomas St. James O'Connor, ThD is Associate Professor, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Water-loo Lutheran Seminary, 75 University Avenue W., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5, Senior Chaplain, Hamilton Health Sciences and Associate Clinical Professor, Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. The author gives special thanks to Elizabeth Meakes, MTS for reading an earlier version of this manuscript and offering helpful feedback.

Journal of Religion & Health 41(3):p 253-262, February-March 2002.

Evidence based spiritual care utilizes empirical evidence on spirituality in addressing the spiritual needs of patients. Objections to evidence based spiritual care include issues of methodology and ethics. Reasons favoring evidence based spiritual care stem from a view that it is not an oxymoron but a paradox. An example of evidence based spiritual care is described using cardiac patients in a CCU unit. Concluding remarks note that we are at the beginning and need a new scientific/theological paradigm that integrates not separates science and theology.