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An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

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concepts <strong>of</strong> reality <strong>and</strong> destiny are also deeply rooted in <strong>the</strong> spirit world <strong>and</strong> healing ritualsaccording to Owuor et al (2008) <strong>and</strong> this concept is similar to African-Caribbeanworldviews in many respects. The results <strong>of</strong> Owuor‟s study on <strong>the</strong> rejuvenating <strong>the</strong>rapeuticfellowship in <strong>the</strong> Luo African independent churches showed possessive spirits as twodimensional,contrasting bad vengeful spirits from unhappy ancestors <strong>and</strong> gently good oneswho are respectful <strong>and</strong> give reverence to humans. The results go fur<strong>the</strong>r to explain that <strong>the</strong>distinctly defined functions <strong>of</strong> healing possessive spirits are mediated through <strong>the</strong> skills <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>se healers, which remain culturally incomprehensible to many from <strong>the</strong> western <strong>and</strong>developed world.Writers such as <strong>An</strong>derson (2004), Kee (2006) <strong>and</strong> Warrington (2008) show similaritiesbetween Pentecostal <strong>and</strong> traditional African religion in <strong>practices</strong> <strong>of</strong> worship <strong>and</strong> healing.Moodley <strong>and</strong> West (2005), looking at <strong>the</strong> practicalities <strong>of</strong> integrating traditional healing<strong>practices</strong> <strong>into</strong> psycho<strong>the</strong>rapy, classify three different kinds <strong>of</strong> mysteries (<strong>the</strong> unknown) in<strong>the</strong>ir experiences <strong>of</strong> how people are healed; <strong>the</strong>se are: <strong>the</strong> unknown in <strong>the</strong> known, <strong>the</strong> notas yet known <strong>and</strong> that which is beyond knowing in scientific terms. If <strong>the</strong> NHS does notdeal with its existing relations with religious organisations carefully, it is in danger <strong>of</strong>simply disregarding <strong>the</strong> engagement <strong>of</strong> patients with what seems to <strong>the</strong>m mysterious.Wright (2007) points out <strong>the</strong> danger <strong>of</strong> reducing <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> chaplains <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>reforereducing <strong>spiritual</strong> support to patients in hospitals in favour <strong>of</strong> „warm words in policiesembracing diversity.‟ Nurses are, or should be aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>spiritual</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>irpatients, although <strong>spiritual</strong> care <strong>and</strong> <strong>spiritual</strong> healing are primarily <strong>the</strong> business <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>chaplain or religious leaders ra<strong>the</strong>r than nurses. Stephen Wright expresses concern that <strong>the</strong>reduction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> chaplains is likely to place nurses in a position where <strong>the</strong>y areexpected to fill <strong>the</strong> ensuing gap. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong>and</strong>, if <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> chaplains is reduced54

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