Spirituality and Social Work: An Indigenous Perspective
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Authors : Birudu Raju, T. R. Kanmani, K. Mamatha, P. Natarajan, Sukumar Pal, Sudipta Biswas, Saro Jos, John Mohan Razu, Agnes Febiola, F. X. Lovelina Littleflower, Ujwal Prakash, C. Rajashekhar, B. Ramesh, C. V. Veda, Ajeet Singh Choudhary, G. R. Rajani, Partha Sarathi Sarkar, Arpan Mukharjee, Shriza Mitra Takur, E. Shujayathulla, Anviti Year : 2021 Publisher : Books Clinic Publishers Pages : 207 ISBN : 978-93-90781-89-6 Spirituality is an underscored construct for social workers practicing in various settings. Self-awareness is a critical element for social workers and their service users. Knowledge of spirituality instigates the curtailment of negative emotions and the containment of positive emotions in social workers and their service users. Chapter 1 of this book discusses essentially how social workers’ knowledge of spiritual aspects can benefit the caregivers of clients with several neuro-oncology conditions. At the same time, the chapter fetches readers’ attention to caregivers’ existential problems and enduring stressors. The authors try to enlighten readers about the concepts used for restoring a balanced life among caregivers about spirituality via their own research experience. Chapter 2 deals with gratitude, forgiveness, and moral values among middle school children. Undoubtedly, school education helps children develop essential moral competence. The authors’ quantitative and qualitative research findings revealed that the study variables did not have significant relationships. Besides, concepts exist among study participants as simply social practices. Chapter 3 is written based on the impact of spirituality on the geriatric population. The quantitative analysis shows that age, spirituality, and well-being are significantly related to spirituality. The authors conclude with valuable recommendations to better the spirituality of older people. Chapter 4 comprised information on spirituality and human life. It progresses by analyzing the contexts of the origin, historical, and present times. Furthermore, in the practice of social work, the content of this chapter helps incorporate the scientific and ethical aspects of spirituality. Chapter 5 depicts that spirituality is an inseparable element of the social work profession. Furthermore, the authors remind the readers that humanity’s good qualities always begin with spirituality. Examples of faithfulness are quoted from the Bible. Furthermore, it is supplemented with near past incidents of ethnic, fundamentalist violence connected to hatred and revenge. Chapter 6 encompasses aspects of coping of social workers in end-of-life care. Research findings from the study analyzed social workers’ different coping strategies and concluded that spirituality stands out as a major one. Most of the study’s respondents opted for both negative and positive coping; however, the practice of spirituality was moderate. Research implications call for the development of positive coping in caregivers. Chapter 7 communicates that the socioeconomic stigma of unemployment is another inquisitive area connecting spirituality. The author reminds the readers that for anyone to think, feel, and practice spirituality requires meeting the basic amenities for living. The stigma of unemployment is a barrier to overcoming aspirations; therefore, practicing spirituality helps young people to overcome it. Participants of the study were from rural and urban areas of Jharkhand. Chapter 8 radiates the knowledge of democratic values from the teachings of Buddha. The four noble truths, five principles tenets of Panchasheela, and eightfold paths are also explained well. Chapter 9 explains that demography, urbanization, globalization, and changes in family structure and culture squarely obstructed the living of senior citizens in their families. Therefore, aged people’s family members rehabilitate them in various nursing homes. The author researched the topic by analyzing secondary data from archives and ancient scriptures. This study found that the presence of the older generations in their own families has the potential to influence their younger generations with wisdom and life experiences. Chapter 10 gives insight into social work and Hinduism. They are reminding readers that spirituality has roots in religion and value systems. While understanding ancient times, the culture of India and the practices of social services were historically considered significant as a way to salvation – Chapter 11 analyses spirituality in Toru Dutt’s Indian poetry. The poet elaborates on values and ethics that are explained to new generations. The author reminds readers of the poet’s travel experiences to Europe; mindfulness of mother nature and Hindu mythology helps to enrich spirituality. Chapter 12 discusses the life and culture of Aborigines influenced by Ramakrishna Kathamrita. The author reminds readers of this book that present-day scientific processes of welfare management of this unique population should be tailor-made to ensure their sustainable living. Given spirituality, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s preachings told the truths of people’s lives, and today, those preachings will benefit the tribal populations’ development. The theme of this chapter is that it shall be used to develop our indigenous population living in forests. Chapter 13 spreads two significant dimensions for career growth: ethics and values and faith in one’s capabilities and potentialities – these help improve the inner self and self-esteem. The authors add the relevance of imparting spirituality in the school curriculum. This will enable future citizens to deal with stress and frustration. Furthermore, the ideological belief system will provide thought-enhancing ideas and motivation. Spiritual minds can reduce discrimination in society with equity of justice. Chapter 14 supplies information on various facets of spirituality in Islam. The author also mentioned the five pillars of Islam, humanitarian preachings, and fundamental human rights principles. The Final Chapter 15 of this edited book explains that spirituality is directly linked to the principle of social work. Notably, it is acceptance of self and others. Acceptance is presented by the author of the chapter in many relevant connotations. To support the claims on the concept of acceptance, the author has done qualitative research on selected social workers. The authors dedicate this edited book to their experience in clinical social work practice using indigenous knowledge from India. The authors’ indigenous work experiences in spirituality are well reflected in the book, which helps the readers understand the concept clearly in India’s context. Every chapter opens and presents interesting perspectives to its readers. Remarkably, its language is simple, and the terms are easily comprehended. The font and font size used throughout this book do not give any difficulties to readers with minor vision problems. Overall, the book provides diverse views of spirituality with indigenous empirical support. Nevertheless, it can be observed that printing errors in some chapters do not create any hindrances for the readers to digest the content. Many chapters of this book provide limited references while handling broad perspectives expected to support empirical evidence related to spirituality. In addition, all segments did not follow any uniform referencing patterns across chapters, which is another added limitation. This edited book is based on integrating the themes of biological, psychological, creative, and social aspects of human experiences. It comprehensively examines the intersection between spirituality and social work from an Indigenous Indian perspective, rendering it particularly beneficial for practitioners and researchers, especially professionals and students in social work, nursing, special education, speech therapy and hearing experts, psychology, rehabilitation, palliative workers, and medical professionals. The edited book combines clinical practice experience with research findings and attests to the reliability and validity of evidence deeply rooted in traditional knowledge, practically making it relevant today. Also presented is the material in accessible language that facilitates understanding complex concepts for both academics and professionals. In this edited book, various social work authors succeeded in covering spirituality in numerous populations, namely students, persons with complicated neurological problems, end-of-life care, geriatric population, youth, and tribal populations. In addition, the authors attempted to bring various ideologies and religious aspects to explain spirituality – the preaching of Gautama Buddha, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, and the poems of renowned Bengali poet Toru Dutta help readers understand spirituality well. The diverse chapters with rich information will conquer the minds of every reader who opens this book. Indigenous literature in social work with research evidence is also sparse; hence, readers from the West may find this valuable book to read to understand spirituality. Considering this book’s more upbeat and outstanding limitations, investing time and money in those looking for Indigenous literature from research in spirituality and social work is recommended.
Authors: Boban Joseph, Lincy Joseph
Institutions: Mahatma Gandhi University, Government Medical College
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4408990565