Spirituality and discourse: A postmodern approach to hospice research

Abstract

In modern western society, because of the dominance of secular modernist ideas ofrationalism and positivistic science, notions of spirituality have been at bestmarginalised, at worst excluded from our discourse on health care. Research intospirituality has been limited by modernist epistemological assumptions concerning?objective? proof and measurement. This discussion seeks to help reverse such a directionby offering an example of research on an Australian hospice service (Karuna HospiceService) which is inclusive of the notion of spirituality. This research indicates thata spiritual discourse was not only important in the genesis of this organisation, butis also a significant factor in energising and guiding the ongoing democratic, holistic,compassionate praxis of this hospice service.