Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Religious Under-Determination of Spiritual Needs from a Theological Perspective and Their Implications for Health and Social Care

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Spiritual Needs in Research and Practice

Abstract

Spiritual needs in this essay are considered both ubiquitous and symbolically present in potentially all human realities and, maybe more importantly, as religiously under-determined. In such a phenomenological sense, spiritual needs have been captured poetically by Ingeborg Bachmann: “In everything there is too little”. With philosophical anthropologists Arnold Gehlen, Helmuth Plessner and Max Scheler, these needs can be regarded as anthropological givens. In consequence, there are and can principally be infinite varieties of spiritual experiences which are open to many interpretations, also with regard to religious interpretations. This under-determination of spiritual needs is considered theologically necessary for the sake of human freedom and as an anthropological precondition of the human right to religious freedom. In addition, along with this perspective of human freedom and dignity, the essay reflects theologically on the link between health and disease with spiritual needs and practices, on spiritual care which is but one important expression of social care, and on social care in general with its transcendent dimension(s).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Anselm of Canterbury (2008) Proslogion. In: Davies B, Evans GR (eds) Anselm of Canterbury. The major works. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 82–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonovsky A (1987) Unraveling the mystery of health. How people manage stress and stay well. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Augustinus A (1987) Bekenntnisse (Confessiones). Insel, Frankfurt

    Google Scholar 

  • Bachmann I (1978) Sämtliche Erzählungen. Piper, München

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumann K (2003) Persönliche Erfüllung im Dienen? Zeitschrift für medizinische Ethik 49:29–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumann K (2008) Hilfekultur als Kulturhilfe. Die organisierte Nächstenliebe (Caritas/ Diakonie) der Kirche als Kulturfaktor. In: Eurich J, Oelschlägel C (eds) Diakonie und Bildung. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart, pp 109–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumann K (2015) Wie kann „caritas“ systemisch werden? Zu einer zentralen Herausforderung an kirchliche Einrichtungen im Gesundheitssystem und im Dienst der Kirche. In Büssing A, Surzykiewicz J, Zimowski Z (eds) Dem Gutes tun, der leidet. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 181–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumann K (2017) Focusing on the basic elements of Christian faith in the Service of Renewal. The scope and effects of the encyclical Deus caritas Est more than ten years after its publication. Rozniki Teologiczne 64(6):5–25. https://doi.org/10.18290/rt.2017.64.6-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benedict XVI (2012) The year of faith. The desire for GOD. General audience of 7 November 2012. http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20121107.html. Accessed 13 Sept 202

  • Bion WR (1962/2003) A theory of thinking. In: Raphael-Leff J (ed) Parent-infant psychodynamics: wild things, mirrors and ghosts. Whurr Publishers, Philadelphia, pp 74–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunner-Traut E (1990) Wohltätigkeit und Armenfürsorge im Alten Ägypten. In: Schäfer GK, Strohm T (eds) Diakonie. Biblische Grundlagen und Orientierungen. HVA, Heidelberg, pp 23–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Büssing A, Balzat HJ, Heusser P (2010) Spiritual needs of patients with chronic pain diseases and Cancer—validation of the spiritual needs questionnaire. Eur J Med Res 15:266–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Büssing A, Recchia DR, Koenig H, Baumann K, Frick E (2018) Factor structure of the spiritual needs questionnaire (SpNQ) in persons with chronic diseases, elderly and healthy individuals. Religions 9:13. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9010013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casper B (2020) „Geisel für den Anderen—vielleicht nur ein harter Name für Liebe“. Emmanuel Levinas und seine Hermeneutik diachronen da-seins. Alber, Freiburg

    Google Scholar 

  • De Lubac H (1983) Le drame de l’humanisme athée, 7ème ed. du Cerf, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Frevel C (2006) Anthropologie. In: Berlejung A, Frevel C (eds) Handbuch theologischer Grundbegriffe zum Alten und Neuen Testament (HGANT). Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt, pp 1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Frick E, Baumann K (2017) Spiritualität—Bedürfnis und Begehren. Empirische Forschung und theologisch-philosophische Reflexion können voneinander lernen. In: Nauerth M, Hahn K, Tüllmann M, Kösterke S (eds) Religionssensibilität in der Sozialen Arbeit: Positionen, Theorien, Praxisfelder. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart, pp 227–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Glock CY, Stark R (1971) Religion and Society in Tension, 5th edn. Rand McNally, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaspers K (1970) Chiffren der Transzendenz. Hrsg. von Hans Saner. Piper, München.

    Google Scholar 

  • James W (1997) The varieties of religious experience. Introduction by Reinhold Niebuhr. Simon & Schuster, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaspers K (1932) Philosophie II (Existenzerhellung). Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Jors K, Büssing A, Hvidt NC, Baumann K (2015) Personal prayer in patients dealing with chronic illness: a review of the research literature. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med:927973. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/927973

  • Kearney R (1999) Desire of god. In: Caputo JD, Scanlon MJ (eds) God, the gift, and postmodernism. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, pp 112–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard S (1849/2013) Sickness unto death: a Christian psychological exposition for upbuilding and awakening. De Gruyter, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • König F, Waldenfels H (eds) (1987) Lexikon der Religionen. Herder, Freiburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinas E (1963/1986) The trace of the other. In: Taylor MC (ed) Deconstruction in context. Literature and philosophy. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 345–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinas E (1983) Die Spur des Anderen. In: Krewani WN (ed) Die Spur des Anderen. Untersuchungen zur Phänomenologie und Sozialphilosophie. Alber, Freiburg, pp 209–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Loch W (1984) Psychoanalytische Perspektiven. Hirzel, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Luhmann N (1977) Fuktion der Religion. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow AH (1954) Motivation and personality. Harper & Row, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews DA, Clark C (1999) The faith factor. Proof of the healing power of prayer. Penguin Books, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Milner K, Crawford P, Edgley A, Hare-Duke L, ML S (2020) The experiences of spirituality among adults with mental health difficulties: a qualitative systematic review. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 29:e34. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796019000234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray SA, Kendall M, Boyd K, Worth A, Benton TF (2004) Exploring the spiritual needs of people dying of lung cancer or heart failure: a prospective qualitative interview study of patients and their carers. Palliat Med 18:39–45. https://doi.org/10.1191/0269216304pm837oa

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament KI (2005) The sacred and the search for significance: religion as a unique process. J Soc Issues 61:665–687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pascal B (1937) Über die Religion und über einige andere Gegenstände (Pensées). Lambert Schneider, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Pleger W (2018) Handbuch der Anthropologie, 3rd edn. WBG Academic, Darmstadt

    Google Scholar 

  • Plessner H (1928/2019) Levels of organic life and the human: an introduction to philosophical anthropology. Fordham University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahner K (1949/1997) The need and the blessing of prayer. Liturgical Press, Collegeville

    Google Scholar 

  • Saroglou V (2011) Believing, bonding, behaving, and belonging: the big four religious dimensions and cultural variation. J Cross-Cult Psychol 42(8):1320–1340. https://doi.org/10.1177/2F0022022111412267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saroglou V, Clobert M, Cohen AB, Johnson KA, Ladd KL, Van Pachterbeke M, Adamovova L, Blogowska J, Brandt PY, Çukur CS, Hwang KK, Miglietta A, Motti-Stefanidi F, Muñoz-García A, Murken S, Roussiau N, Valladares JT (2020) Believing, bonding, behaving, and belonging: the cognitive, emotional, moral, and social dimensions of religiousness across cultures. J Cross-Cult Psychol 51(7–8):551–575. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022120946488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt WH (2011) Alttestamentlicher Glaube, 11th edn. Neukirchener Verlag, Neukirchen-Vluyn

    Google Scholar 

  • Schockenhoff E (2012) Das Recht, ungehindert die Wahrheit zu suchen. Die Erklärung über die Religionsfreiheit Dignitatis humanae. In: Tück JH (ed) Erinnerung an die Zukunft. Das Zweite Vatikanische Konzil. Herder, Freiburg, pp 601–642

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroer S, Staubli T (1998) Die Körpersymbolik der Bibel. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt

    Google Scholar 

  • Siewerth G (ed) (1954) Thomas von Aquin. Die menschliche Willensfreiheit. Verlag L. Schwann, Düsseldorf

    Google Scholar 

  • Theissen G (1990) Die Legitimitätskrise des Helfens und der barmherzige Samariter. In: Röckle G (ed) Diakonische Kirche. Neukirchener Verlag, Neukirchen-Vluyn, pp 46–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Theissen G (2000) Die Religion der ersten Christen. Eine Theorie des Urchristentums. Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh

    Google Scholar 

  • Tillich P (1958) The dynamics of faith. Harper, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Vatican II (1965a) Dignitatis humanae. Declaration on religious freedom. On the right of the person and of communities to social and civil freedom in matters religious. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651207_dignitatis-humanae_en.html. Accessed 20 Sept 2020

  • Vatican II (1965b) Gaudium et spes. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html. Accessed 20 Sept 2020

  • Waldenfels B (1994) Antwortregister. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff HW (1973) Anthropologie des Alten Testaments. Kaiser, München

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Caritas Science and Christian Social Work, Faculty of Theology, Alberts Ludwig-University, Freiburg, Germany

    Klaus Baumann

  2. Research Unit Spiritual Care, Clinic and Policlinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Eckhard Frick

Authors
  1. Klaus Baumann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eckhard Frick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Klaus Baumann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Professorship Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Herdecke, Germany

    Arndt Büssing

  2. IUNCTUS—Competence Center for Christian Spirituality, Philosophical-Theological University of Münster, Münster, Germany

    Arndt Büssing

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Baumann, K., Frick, E. (2021). The Religious Under-Determination of Spiritual Needs from a Theological Perspective and Their Implications for Health and Social Care. In: Büssing, A. (eds) Spiritual Needs in Research and Practice. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70139-0_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation