Implications of The Spiritual Revolution for Those in Health Care Chaplaincy

Abstract

This response to Linda Woodhead’s paper is in broad agreement with the findings of the study and the conclusions reached, and gives consideration to how the ‘subjective turn’ is played out in the sphere of healthcare in Scotland. It outlines the shape of spirituality in the NHS and considers implications for chaplaincy work. New guidelines on ‘spiritual care’ have necessitated a rethinking of the role of chaplains, but this has proved contentious: those who practice and bear witness to a clear set of beliefs do not fit easily within subjective structures.