Spirituality as Anti-Structure in James Cameron\u27s Avatar

This is a review of Avatar (2009)

Die innere ethische Fallbesprechung: ein kommunikationspsychologisches Instrument zur Selbstklärung in ethischen Konfliktsituationen

Ethische Fallbesprechungen (EFB) sind ein zentrales Element der Ethikberatung im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen. Die Qualität von EFB hängt auch von der Selbstreflexions- und Diskursfähigkeit der Akteure ab. Um diese Kompetenzen zu fördern, wird in diesem Beitrag das Instrument der inneren EFB erarbeitet. Das Modell der inneren EFB verbindet das Konzept der inneren Ratsversammlung (Schulz von Thun) mit dem Schema einer prinzipienorientierten Falldiskussion (Marckmann und Mayer) und umfasst vier Schritte: 1) Wahrnehmung der inneren Pluralität; 2) Prinzipienethische Strukturierung; 3) Brainstorming und kritische Reflexion; 4) Entwurf einer integrierten Stellungnahme.Ethical case deliberation (ECD) is a central element of ethical consultation in health care and welfare services. The quality of ECD depends, among others, on the ability of the actors to self-reflect and to engage in discourse. To promote these competencies, the instrument of the inner ECD is developed in this paper. The inner ECD combines the concept of inner council (Schulz von Thun) with the processing logic of an ECD oriented to the four principles of biomedical ethics (Marckmann and Mayer). The inner ECD encloses four steps: 1) perception of internal plurality; 2) structuring according to the four principles approach; 3) brainstorming and critical reflection; 4) integrated response

Experiences and Perceived Effects of Rosary Praying: A Qualitative Study

The aim of this study is to explore experiences and perceived effects of the Rosary on issues around health and well-being, as well as on spirituality and religiosity. A qualitative study was conducted interviewing ten Roman Catholic German adults who regularly practiced the Rosary prayer. As a result of using a tangible prayer cord and from the rhythmic repetition of prayers, the participants described experiencing stability, peace and a contemplative connection with the Divine, with Mary as a guide and mediator before God. Praying the Rosary was described as helpful in coping with critical life events and in fostering an attitude of acceptance, humbleness and devotion

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Deidre Michell: Christian Science: Women, Healing, and the Church

Deidre Michell, eine australische Theologin, die mit dieser Monographie ihre 2008 an der Flinders University eingereichte Dissertation vorlegt, will in der Lehre und Praxis von Christian Science Potentiale für die die zeitgenössische feministische Theologie erkennen. Neben der jüngst erschienen Habilitationsschrift von Britta Waldschmidt-Nelson (Christian Science im Lande Luthers, 2009), in der ebenfalls Interviewdaten verarbeitet worden sind, stellt Michells Buch momentan die einzige empirisch fundierte Studie über Christian Science dar

Religion und Menschenfeindlichkeit

Küpper B, Zick A. Religion und Menschenfeindlichkeit. In: Jeserich F, Klein C, Zwingmann C, eds. Religiösität - die dunkle Seite. Beiträge zur empirische Religionsforschung. Münster: Waxmann; 2015

Religion und Menschenfeindlichkeit

Küpper B, Zick A. Religion und Menschenfeindlichkeit. In: Zwingmann C, Klein C, Jeserich F, eds. Religiosität: Die dunkle Seite. Beiträge zur empirischen Religionsforschung. 2017: 117-135

Biographical similarities between spiritual healers and their clients in Germany – a qualitative study

Spiritual healers in contemporary Germany comprise a heterogeneous and growing group, yet little data exists about them. Therefore, one aim of this study was to learn about which biographical aspects and events were important to the process of becoming a healer and which biographical aspects drove clients to consult a healer. The study was based on semi-structured interviews combined with participant observations. All data were recorded digitally, transcribed, entered into the software program MAXQDA and analysed subjected to Content Analysis. In total, 15 healers (nine male, six female) and 16 clients (13 female, three male) were included. According to the healers, a talent for healing can be inborn, inherited or developed through life experiences. Most of the healers experienced a crisis, which prompted their transformation to healers (the wounded healer type). A smaller group became healers mainly out of interest without going through crisis and by focusing on the spiritual attitude itself (the healer by interest type). The basis of healing is seen as a connection to a transcendent reality, which enables an open, loving and empathetic attitude. The experience of crises and illnesses and the importance of spirituality are major biographical similarities between healers and clients. Near-death experiences as an extreme form of crisis were reported from a few healers and clients. The connections between healing talents and crises, including a deepened exploration of near-death experiences and questions regarding inclining towards spirituality could be of interest in further studies

Perceived outcomes of spiritual healing and explanations - a qualitative study on the perspectives of German healers and their clients

Background Limited research has been conducted on contemporary spiritual healing in European countries. The aim of this article is to report how German healers and their clients experienced and perceived the outcomes of spiritual healing and which explanations they use to describe the perceived effects. Methods Semistructured interviews and participatory observation was used to collect data from spiritual healers and their clients. Analyses were based on the methodological concept of directed qualitative content analysis. Data was analyzed using MAXQDA software, discussed and reviewed by a multidisciplinary research team consisting of medical anthropologists, medical doctors and a religious studies scholar. Results In total 15 healers and 16 clients participated in this study, 24 interviews with healers, 20 interviews with clients and 8 participatory observations were analyzed. Healers and clients reported outcomes as positively perceived body sensations, increased well-being, positive emotions and symptomatic relief of medical complaints. Clients often described changes in their self-concepts and adapted life values. Explanations for perceived effects included connecting with transcendent sources, construction of meaning, as a result of the client-healer relationship, and as empowerment to make changes. Because the interviewed clients were recruited by the healers, a selection bias towards positive healing experiences is possible. Conclusion We hypothesize that concepts of meaning construction, resource activation and the utilization of the clients’ expectations help to explain the data. Grounded in the emic perspective, we propose to use the following outcomes for further prospective studies: positive body sensations, changes of self-concepts and values, changes of medical symptoms and complaints. From the etic perspective, physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing, sense of coherence, meaningfulness of life, empowerment, resource activation, change and symptom control should be further explored as potential outcomes