Spirituality and Religion in Human Services

Despite our personal, interpersonal, and professional lives constantly being shaped by our values and belief systems, the common discourse on spirituality is often reduced to religion, with little exploration of its intricate dimensionalities and complexities. This practice manual provides an honest, informed, and in-depth discussion of the various constitutions of spirituality, while examining its intersection with religion for informing professional practice in the human services. It is long overdue and highly commendable, a refreshing, important and comprehensive addition to the literature; a volume that makes us think, reflect, and act upon our true north with conviction and determination.

Dr Andy Hau Yan Ho Provost’s Chair Professor in Psychology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

This is not a textbook in the typical sense and use of the term manual should not suggest a functional ‘how to’ manual. The authors draw on their considerable expertise to challenge thinking, promote reflection and improve practice through a framework that takes complex concepts and makes them manageable and accessible. The values and knowledge of the authors shine through and suggest the integration of theory, practice, and values by promoting a ‘theorizing practice’ approach. Importantly, the manual makes a compelling case for the importance of understanding people’s spiritual needs as that which enables people to ‘give expression to their worldview’. This thought-provoking approach is helpful and the use of ‘moccasin moments’ encourages reflection and understanding. The exercises at the end of each Chapter require the reader to think and to apply that thinking to complex situations, thereby better understanding how our own values inform what we do and how we practise.

Gerry Rice Dean for Students, University of the West of England

This is a welcome second edition of the Spirituality and Religious practice manual by Neil Thompson and the late Bernard Moss. The authors identified an important area of professional practice, revealing an underdeveloped curriculum area, relating to spirituality and religion and have updated the manual to further explore and update the topic in the context of changing societal and contemporary challenges. They do not expect the manual to do justice to all religious or spiritual denominations, nor address the complexities of people-based practice across all faith, spiritual, religious, and cultural contexts. Rather, they use a social justice and human rights perspective to consider religious and spiritual diversity by consideration of the practice context, using anti-oppressive principles. The manual provides a framework for students, practitioners, managers and academics to critically explore these topics, and it provides a reflective resource to interrogate knowledge and understanding in this critical domain.

Dr Paula McFadden Professor of Social Work, Ulster University