Work

Science and Religion in the Context of a Good Death

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The desire to improve end-of-life care has driven an increase in research to understand people’s preferences and choices when faced with death. Drawing from interviews with 48 religious and non-religious people, we examine how respondents explain the interactions and participation of medical science and religion in constructing what respondents describe as a good death. Respondents draw from religious and scientific toolkits when narrating an ideal death. We find that both religious and non-religious respondents frame a good death as peaceful. In addition, the boundaries between science and religion are malleable for respondents who perceive them as complementary. In constructing a good death, a few of our respondents view science and religion as separate and without collaboration. Religious and non-religious people share beliefs in the afterlife, illustrating overlap of religious and scientific toolkits. For non-religious people, the afterlife is not mediated by the imminent. Results show that services and choices made in end-of-life care are partly informed by how people perceive the interactions and boundaries between science and religion. Results have implications for end-of-life care, indicating that it should be tailored to the needs and expectations of clients, especially non-religious people whose spiritual needs are often neglected.

Source: Review of Religious Research

DOI: 10.1177/0034673x251357293

Authors: Josiah Taru, Elaine Howard Ecklund

Institution: Rice University

Language: English

Topic: Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650

Funder: Templeton Religion Trust