A Sacred Response to Suffering in the Clinical Setting
Danny Franke, PhD, Alderson Broaddus University
In this paper I will address the notion of suffering and how the sacred can contribute to the care of the sick who are suffering. There are three key aspects of suffering I will explore: suffering and pain, suffering and personhood, and suffering and values. While not all of those who are sick may be suffering, in each of these areas space for the sacred, or sacred space can make a difference in the care of the sick.
While suffering and pain often go together it can be more than mere physical pain. Mental pain is real and an important factor in the care of the sick. In this part of the paper I will identify aspects of mental pain, in particular, its connection to hopelessness and despair as it relates to the future. The sacred can offer a sense of hope to the sick that medicine may not be able to provide. The next aspect of suffering to discuss is how it affects personhood. I will develop what I mean by personhood and how it is connected to a sense of self and identity. There is an important connection between the ability to think and the ability to suffer. And the ability to think allows for the ability to engage with the sacred that allows for a sense of purpose in one’s life and the possibility of care for the sick. The third aspect of suffering involves values. Is there any value in suffering when one is sick and can the sacred play a part in determining this? I believe the answer is a qualified yes and I will attempt to make that point here.
Finally, I will address why I believe medicine alone cannot fully care for the sick. It is in the area of the sacred or the divine to more fully address pain, personhood, and values. For these reasons the distinction between being cured or being healed becomes a significant distinction I will develop. In conclusion, I will as such argue for the necessity of space for the sacred to more fully care for the sick.
While suffering and pain often go together it can be more than mere physical pain. Mental pain is real and an important factor in the care of the sick. In this part of the paper I will identify aspects of mental pain, in particular, its connection to hopelessness and despair as it relates to the future. The sacred can offer a sense of hope to the sick that medicine may not be able to provide. The next aspect of suffering to discuss is how it affects personhood. I will develop what I mean by personhood and how it is connected to a sense of self and identity. There is an important connection between the ability to think and the ability to suffer. And the ability to think allows for the ability to engage with the sacred that allows for a sense of purpose in one’s life and the possibility of care for the sick. The third aspect of suffering involves values. Is there any value in suffering when one is sick and can the sacred play a part in determining this? I believe the answer is a qualified yes and I will attempt to make that point here.
Finally, I will address why I believe medicine alone cannot fully care for the sick. It is in the area of the sacred or the divine to more fully address pain, personhood, and values. For these reasons the distinction between being cured or being healed becomes a significant distinction I will develop. In conclusion, I will as such argue for the necessity of space for the sacred to more fully care for the sick.