Professional Care of Spirit, Part 2

Defining "Spirit" and "Care of Spirit"

Unfortunately, we have no general consensus on the definitions of spirit, spiritual, or spirituality.  Consequently, we also have no general consensus on what "care of spirit" is.  

This problem is illustrated in the article "Spirituality Unplugged" by Unruh and Versnel published in the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69:5-19, 2002. The article presented the authors' comprehensive literature review which found 92 different definitions of spirituality. Imagine the state of physical and mental health care if we had no general consensus on the definitions of body and mind.

I propose that we define "spirit" as "that which makes alive."  There are several good reasons for defining spirit this way. 

First, it has deep roots in Western civilization. It goes back at least as far as Homer and his frequent use of the word thumos. Thumos was translated into Latin by the word "spiritus" from which we get our word "spirit."

Secondly, defining spirit as "that which makes alive" clarifies what "care of spirit" is and what a healthcare professional caring for spirit actually does. "Care of spirit" is "helping with the health and well-being of spirit." A healthcare professional who provides care of spirit, provides therapeutic care for that which makes us alive. 

Thirdly, clarifying care of spirit clarifies what it means in healthcare to care for the whole person- body, mind, and spirit. We have a general consensus on what it means to care for a person's body and mind. With this definition of spirit it is possible to have a general consensus on what it means to care for a person's spirit.

Fourthly, this definition removes care of spirit from a religious context and puts it in a human context. Understanding the human spirit in a human context makes it possible to develop a science of spirit and a therapeutic care of spirit informed by that science. I propose the word "thumology" to refer to the scientific study of spirit. And the word "thumotherapy" to refer to the therapeutic care of spirit.

Finally, defining care of spirit as "helping with the health and well-being of spirit" distinguishes it from "care of souls" which is traditionally what clergy and chaplains provide.