Steven
Let me respond to your questions

Question One:  What is GWISH

GWISH is the George Washington Institute on Spirituality and Health.  It has been heavily funded by the Templeton Foundation, and is the group that offers the curricular awards.  It is can be found at GWISH.ORG

Question Two:  What is religious fundamentalism exactly?  Isn't this term sort of derogatory regarding some people's chosen spirituality?

You are correct in noting that the term fundamentalism has negative connotations for many.  It is a word that carriers with it some baggage.  One can hardly read a weekly news magazine without encountering the term `fundamentalist' with reference to some group active on the world stage. In fact, the popularity of the term is part of the problem.

I wish I had a better term to use.

Bruce Lawrence in his book, Defenders of God: The Fundamentalist Revolt Against the Modern Age defines fundamentalism as " the affirmation of religious authority as holistic and absolute, admitting of neither criticism nor reduction; it is expressed through the collective demand that specific creedal and ethical dictates derived from scripture be publicly recognized and legally enforced ."

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences funded a multiyear project that brought scholars from around the world together to study Fundamentalism. Ultimately they produced 5 volumes containing almost 8,000 pages of material. Admitting some difficulty with the term, the project opts to use it anyway for a variety of reasons. Essentially, they argue that it is commonly accepted, here to stay, and the best term anyone can come up with for this phenomena.  At one point in the study the researchers list 5 ideological characteristics and 4 organizational characteristics of fundamentalism. The Five ideological characteristics are:
*fundamentalists are concerned "first" with the erosion of religion and its proper role in society;
*fundamentalism is selective of their tradition and what part of modernity they accept or choose to react against;
*they embrace some form of Manicheanism (dualism);
*fundamentalists stress absolutism and inerrancy in their sources of revelation; and
*they opt for some form of Millennialism or Messianism.

The organizational characteristics include:
*an elect or chosen membership;
*sharp group boundaries;
*charismatic authoritarian leaders; and
*mandated behavioral requirements.

Jeffrey K. Hadden and Anson Shupe,  in their work "Secularization and Fundamentalism Reconsidered"  offer this definition, " a proclamation of reclaimed authority over a sacred tradition which is to be reinstated as an antidote for a society that has strayed from its cultural moorings."

Obviously people respond to the dynamics illustrated in all of the above descriptions differently.  Some like it, some find it frightening, and others are very judgemental of such a stance.  People will accept such a stance with respect to their own faith system and find it appalling in another faith system.

I am not trying to make a judgement about it.  It simply is, and it is having a powerful impact on our world.  In my part of the world, it has made many of those who were ambivelant about religions very  negative.  It has led to increased polarization, even among those who are from the same system.  There may be some benefits as well.  It has certainly brought some important issues into public awareness and created much dialouge.

Thinking back over your response, I am trying to think of a term that carries less baggage, but I find it difficult.  If I talk about religious radicalism, I think there is still some degree of judgement.  The advantage of that kind of term is that it may lead to a broader understanding of the issue.  Since fundamentalism can be seen as a specific branch, normally conservative, of a religion.  If we think about people who have "radical" views, there may be an ability to think of people on both ends of the theological spectrum.  Some of those on the liberal end of the spectrum can be ideologically radically, rigid, and judgemental.

So you raise a very good issue.
Perhaps I'll rephrase the question this way...
We are seeing an increase in religious intensity, and spiritual and/or religious perspectives are being applied culturally, even politically - there are attempts to resacralize public life.  How does this impact efforts to develop curriculum?  Does it help, or hinder?  Does the impact vary in different regions of the country (it has made it harder in Oregon), and how does it impact efforts to integrated healthcare and spirituality?

Steve K.

In reply to ...
Steven E. Roskos, MD

Department of Family Medicine

University of Tennessee - Knoxville

sroskos@...

865-544-9352, ext. 5059

Fax:  865-544-6532



  _____ 

From: Stephen Kliewer [mailto:kliewers@...]
Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 11:45 PM
To: STFM-Spirituality@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [STFM-Spirituality] (unknown)



Greetings

Just to let you know, John Saulz, MD, Chair of Family Medicine at Oregon =
Health Science University and I have finally finished out book on =
Healthcare and Spirituality.  I invite you all to take a look at it on =
Amazon.com.

It was published in England by Radcliffe Medical Press, and is on its way =
to US warehouses now.  Hope you find it useful.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857756223/qid=3D1135653337/sr=3D8-1/ref=
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857756223/qid=3D1135653337/sr=3D8-1/ref=>

=3Dsr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-9389205-0697405?n=3D507846&s=3Dbooks&v=3Dglance

Also, GWISH will soon be sending information about its latest round of =
curricular awards.  As a past award winner for both predoc and graduate I =
encourage you to look into this program.  It is amazing how open administra=
tions can be when there is a little money attached.

There are some changes to the program you may find intriguing.

I would encourage any of you, if you run across resources you find useful, =
to post them on the listserve.  Also let us know of events you think =
people might find of interest.

Finally, I'd like to end with a question that I would appreciate thoughts =
around.  We are finding, Ithink a resurgence of religious fundamentalism.  =
Has this impacted efforts to develop curricular elements?  Does this =
affect the intergration of healthcare and spirituality?

Would love to hear your thoughts!

STEVE



Stephen Kliewer. D.Min.
Assistant Professor
Department of Family Medicine
Oregon Health and Science University

Phone:  541-426-4524
Cell: 541-398-0547
FAX     541-426-3035


Email:  kliewers@...



Community email addresses:
  Post message: STFM-Spirituality@onelist.com
  Subscribe:    STFM-Spirituality-subscribe@onelist.com
  Unsubscribe:  STFM-Spirituality-unsubscribe@onelist.com
  List owner:   STFM-Spirituality-owner@onelist.com

Shortcut URL to this page:
  http://www.onelist.com/community/STFM-Spirituality
<http://www.onelist.com/community/STFM-Spirituality> 




SPONSORED LINKS


Health and wellness

Health wellness product

Health and wellness program


Diet fitness health nutrition wellness

Health promotion and wellness

Business health wellness



  _____ 

YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS



*        Visit your group "STFM-Spirituality
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STFM-Spirituality> " on the web.
 
*        To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
 STFM-Spirituality-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:STFM-Spirituality-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
 
*        Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo!
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>  Terms of Service.



  _____ 



Stephen Kliewer. D.Min.
Assistant Professor
Department of Family Medicine
Oregon Health and Science University

Phone:  541-426-4524
Cell: 541-398-0547
FAX     541-426-3035


Email:  kliewers@...



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
AIDS has a woman's face.  Help women to protect themselves.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/aB9X0B/TREMAA/xGEGAA/asSolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Community email addresses:
  Post message: STFM-Spirituality@onelist.com
  Subscribe:    STFM-Spirituality-subscribe@onelist.com
  Unsubscribe:  STFM-Spirituality-unsubscribe@onelist.com
  List owner:   STFM-Spirituality-owner@onelist.com

Shortcut URL to this page:
  http://www.onelist.com/community/STFM-Spirituality
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STFM-Spirituality/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    STFM-Spirituality-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/