Since the 1971 White House Conference on Aging in the United States, the need to move from religiosity into new areas such as Spiritual Assessment and Spirituality has emerged. This movement has picked up momentum among scholars, particularly in terms of research in the area of Spirituality. While spirituality as a term is employed in many new studies, this term continues to defy the quest for a single definition and method. This book is divided into three sections. In the first the authors reflect on the philosophical and theological issues presented by these terms from a variety of both cognate and practical methodological approaches. The second section offers insights from the major professions of sociology, psychology, public health, nursing and social work. The final section offers insight and assistance to researchers and authors on specific religious traditions. This book will be important for anyone working to develop such practical tools as spiritual assessment forms to those who engage in more formal scholarly investigation.
1. Foreword James W. Ellor
2. Understanding and Reflexivity in Researching Religion, Spirituality and Aging Ronald J. Walent
3. Temporal Trends in Spirituality Research: Anthony Ribaudo and Masami Takahashi
4. Understanding Spirituality and Religiosity in the Transgender Community: Jeremy D. Kidd and Tarynn M. Witten
5. The Rose and the Thorn: Susan A. Eisenhandler
6. The "Persistent Problems" in the Psychology of Religion and Aging: Susan H. McFadden
7. Spirituality and Aging: Research and Implications David O. Moberg
8. A Perspective on the Development of Knowledge of Spirituality and Aging. Elizabeth MacKinlay
10. Religion, Aging, and Health: Historical Perspectives, Current Trends, and Future Directions Jeff Levin and Linda M. Chatters
11. Spirituality, Religion, and Aging Research in Social Work: State of the Art and Future Possibilities Holly Nelson-Becker and Edward R. Canda
12. Is the Literature on Religion and Aging Useful for Jewish Communal Planning? Gail G. Glicksman and Allen Glicksman
13. Ethnogeriatrics and Comparative Religions Methods for Gerontological Research into Topics of Religion and Spirituality A. Christian van Gorder and James W. Ellor
14 A Brief Review of Literature of Buddhist Writings on Spirituality and Aging Ronald Y. Nakasone
15. Spiritual Formation at the End of Life Helen Harris
Biography
James W. Ellor is the Director of the Center for Gerontological Studies, Professor in the School of Social Work at Baylor University and Editor of the Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging. He joined the Baylor faculty in August of 2004. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA and on the pastoral staff of First Presbyterian Church of Waco, Texas.
