African Guide

Spirituality And Religion In Patients With Hiv/aids.
J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Dec; 21 Suppl 5: S5-S13Cotton S, Puchalski CM, Sherman SN, Mrus JM, Peterman AH, Feinberg J, Pargament KI, Justice AC, Leonard AC, Tsevat JBACKGROUND: Spirituality and religion are often central issues for patients dealing with chronic illness. The purpose of this study is to characterize spirituality/religion in a large and diverse sample of patients with HIV/AIDS by using several measures of spirituality/religion, to examine associations between spirituality/religion and a number of demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables, and to assess changes in levels of spirituality over 12 to 18 months. METHODS: We interviewed 450 patients from 4 clinical sites. Spirituality/religion was assessed by using 8 measures: the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spirituality-Expanded scale (meaning/peace, faith, and overall spirituality); the Duke Religion Index (organized and nonorganized religious activities, and intrinsic religiosity); and the Brief RCOPE scale (positive and negative religious coping). Covariates included demographics and clinical characteristics, HIV symptoms, health status, social support, self-esteem, optimism, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The patients' mean (SD) age was 43.3 (8.4) years; 387 (86%) were male; 246 (55%) were minorities; and 358 (80%) indicated a specific religious preference. Ninety-five (23%) participants attended religious services weekly, and 143 (32%) engaged in prayer or meditation at least daily. Three hundred thirty-nine (75%) patients said that their illness had strengthened their faith at least a little, and patients used positive religious coping strategies (e.g., sought God's love and care) more often than negative ones (e.g., wondered whether God has abandoned me; P<.0001). In 8 multivariable models, factors associated with most facets of spirituality/religion included ethnic and racial minority status, greater optimism, less alcohol use, having a religion, greater self-esteem, greater life satisfaction, and lower overall functioning (R(2)=.16 to .74). Mean levels of spirituality did not change significantly over 12 to 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with HIV/AIDS belonged to an organized religion and use their religion to cope with their illness. Patients with greater optimism, greater self-esteem, greater life satisfaction, minorities, and patients who drink less alcohol tend to be both more spiritual and religious. Spirituality levels remain stable over 12 to 18 months.... More

Winner Is Melbourne For Religion &amp;quot;olympics&amp;quot; - Cathnews
Winner is Melbourne for religion &quot;Olympics&quot;CathNews,&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;- 8 hours agoThe next World Parliament of Religions, an event likened to the &quot;Olympic Games of religion and spirituality&quot; is to be held in Melbourne after beating out ... Melbourne to host world religion &#39;Olympics&#39; The AgeMelbourne to host &#39;Olympics of religion&#39; Daily Telegraphall 13 news articles... More

A Home Study-based Spirituality Education Program Decreases Emotional Distress And Increases Quality Of Life--a Randomized, Controlled Trial.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2006 Nov-Dec; 12(6): 26-35Moritz S, Quan H, Rickhi B, Liu M, Angen M, Vintila R, Sawa R, Soriano J, Toews JCONTEXT: Although epidemiological studies have reported protective effects of religion and spirituality on mental health, it is unknown whether spirituality can be used as an intervention to improve psychological well-being. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a home study-based spirituality program on mood disturbance in emotionally distressed patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A non-blinded, randomized, wait list-controlled trial of 165 individuals with mood disturbance [score of >40 on the Profile of Mood States (POMS)] were recruited from primary care clinics in a Canadian city between August 2000 and March 2001. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized to a spirituality group (an 8-week audiotaped spirituality home-study program), a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction group (attendance at facilitated classes for 8 weeks), or a wait-list control group (no intervention for 12 weeks). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were mood disturbance, measured using POMS, and quality of life, measured using the SF-36, a short-form health survey with 36 questions. The POMS and the SF-36 were completed at baseline, at 8 weeks, and at 12 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of the 8-week intervention period, the mean POMS score improvement was -43.1 (-45.7%) for the spirituality group, -22.6 (-26.3%) for the meditation group, and -10.3 (11.3%) for the control group (P<.001 for spirituality vs control group; P=.034 for spirituality vs meditation group). Mean improvement in the SF-36 mental component summary score was 14.4 (48.6%) for the spirituality group, 7.1 (22.3%) for the meditation group, and 4.7 (16.1%) for the control group (P<.001 for spirituality vs control group; P=.029 for spirituality vs meditation group). At 12 weeks, POMS and SF-36 scores remained significantly different from baseline for the spirituality group.... More

Virtual Shrines Questioned In Japan
Virtual visits to shrines are under scrutiny in Japan, with some saying that online visits to shrines lack spirituality and undermine sanctity.Comment... More

Living Well: Spiritualitys Role Is Affirmed In Facing Cancer
A new study from the University of Missouri affirms the galvanizing effect of spirituality for African American women facing a breast cancer diagnosis while leaving the polarity of organized religion to someone else.... More

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Youth Ministry In The 21st Century: The Encycloped It’s the most comprehensive study ever produced addressing religion & spirituality in the lives of American teens. The study includes critical findings from Dr. Christian S. Smith, professor of sociology and principal investigator for the National Study of Youth and Religion, insights from youth ministry expert Rick Lawrence, and more than 100 practical programming ideas....

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