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Conner Thomson
Mrs. Caruso
UWRT 1103
7-21-15
Does Religion and Spirituality Influence End of Life?
It seems that to this day, it is unclear for millions of people to define exactly what
happens at the end of a lifetime. Some tend to seek more medical help in hopes of
prolonging life while others may turn to a religious and spiritual mindset. However, there
comes a time and place when a person accepts that he or she is dying. It seems that with
each life, there is a different process on how to cope with it. The end of life stage is
inevitable but arrives quicker for some such as people who become terminally ill, and a
grey area presents itself when those near death make a decision on how they will cope
with their approaching death. Whether it is through finding strength in God and religious
beliefs, courage through family and strong relationships, peace through spiritual beliefs,
or pondering the afterlife, all are a means to make people accept their mortality and be
comforted as they approach death.
With dying comes vulnerability. With vulnerability, comes dependence. Sick
people often turn to things which they believe will give them closure and peace of mind.
It just so happens that different people fall on different beliefs. In a study done by Pam
McGrath, a professor at Central Queensland University, she stated, Most of the
participants either did not have religious beliefs or were operating on generic beliefs
(McGrath 889). The study consisted of 14 terminally ill patients. Twelve had terminal
cancer while two were diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Each was given a
prognosis of six months to live. Surprisingly, there were only three that turned to
religious faith for strength to fight the disease. For the patients that underwent pastoral
care, they found it to be beneficial in the progression of coping with the illness.

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The interesting part is that the overall motive for each religious participant was to
ensure spiritual life after death. The concepts of Heaven have for a long time been the
ultimate goal. However, this same belief has troubled people for thousands of years.
There is certainly something troubling about this concept. If they were true followers,
then they would view their faithfulness and devotion to God as their goal, and Heaven as
a reward for following Him. Why then is the topic of heaven so troubling? It seems as
though that very answer lies in believing. The Christian faith relies on the fundamental
ideas and scriptures of the Holy Bible. There is nothing to accept with the eyes. Rather, it
is with the mind and soul (McGrath). Religion originates thousands of years ago. There is
no physical or concrete proof to believe in. Instead, it is taught that we should have faith
in the word of God and Jesus Christ.
For the majority of the participants, religion played no part in influencing end of
life perception. Regarding this group, McGrath says, Those without religious beliefs
stated that they relied on their own inner strengths and family support as a way of dealing
with the challenge of their illness (McGrath 894). With that being said, it is evident that
patients with a terminal illness are more apt to believe in something. It does not
necessarily always translate into turning to God or some type of religion or religious
notions. It seems that many people try to identify with or find something to believe in that
will bring them comfort and peace in their final months.
For those who do not seek religious help, how do they seek spiritual help? The
majority of participants stated that it was a close family that acted as a support system.
One person referred to it as, inner spiritual strength. Some of the participants even
expressed extreme anger towards religion for the simple fact of having lost loved ones

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prior to their sickness. From this, it can be concluded that personal experiences have a
way of influencing peoples preferences. Even though some patients may be deemed
atheists, some still believed in some version of afterlife. Perhaps this sporadic belief is
used as a buffer and comforter to how they really feel deep down inside about life after
death. There is a fine line between fear and faith and whether or not a person is religious.
The ultimate goal is to be accepting with dying because of stored confidence in support
and certainty of an afterlife.
Whether or not a person is religious or atheistic, it is clear that there is a
support system. The question is, what is the difference between spirituality and religion?
It appears as a blur most of time but can be separated in some situations. According to
Itai Ivtzan, a professor at London University, he says, Spirituality is used to describe an
inner, subjective experience that makes us feel a strong interest in understanding the
meaning of things in life and later states, Religion, however, involves practices
engaged in by members of a social organization (Ivtzan). The spirit lives inside all of us
but religion is used to strengthen this spirit. From an atheists perspective, they believe in
the spirit but do not agree with religion and the origin of the spirit.
After researching several aspects of end of life influence, it is clear that people
focus on the things that symbolize comfort and safety in times of devastation. It is simply
human nature to find comfort in routine, especially in times of turmoil. There is no
correlation as to which path allows for more happiness in the remaining days of a life. At
the end of the day, it comes down to preference. Some are more comfortable with religion
while others find stability in other people and the spiritual world. The things that

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influence people the most at the end of a lifetime are those that make us most acceptant
with dyingreligious or not.

Works Cited
Ivtzan, Itai. "Linking Religion and Spirituality with Psychological Well-being:
Examining Self-actualisation, Meaning in Life, and Personal Growth Initiative."
Journal of Religion and Health. Springer Link, 4 Oct. 2011. Web. 19 July 2015.
McGrath, Pam. RELIGIOSITY AND THE CHALLENGE OF TERMINAL ILLNESS
Atkins Library - J. Murrey Atkins Library - UNC Charlotte. Taylor and
Francis Inc., 2 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 July 2015.
Shinall Jr., Myrick C., and Oscar D. Guillamondegui. "Effect of Religion on End-of-Life
Care Among Trauma Patients." Journal of Religion and Health. Springer Link, 1
May 2014. Web. 19 July 2015.