JourneyOnline
Templeton Foundation Press,2008
RRP $24.95
Reviewed by Rev Lloyd Beynon, a chaplain at The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital, Buderim, who is interested in spiritual and pastoral care and in particular palliative care
This well written small handbook presents the spiritual beliefs, practices and prayers of the five major world religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism) surrounding illness, dying and death.
This useful book has been written with pastoral carers in mind who need easy access to resources that are both readable, concise and practical.
It would be ‘usable’ when sharing with patients and families of people from the different religions.
After a brief introduction on each religion and a summary of beliefs is concisely presented and followed by ideal practices in times of illness and death.
It is important to have a basic understanding of these practices, for example in rituals required and handling the body after death.
For Western hospitals the author also includes useful suggestions about what not to do or say in respect to different faith traditions.
The prayer resources for each of the religions is well researched and provides prayers that would be able to shared.
The prayers also provide a good insight into each of the religion’s beliefs on life and death.
Ms Fosarelli achieves her purpose in proving a readable, useful and practical resource that is very worthwhile having easily accessible.
