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Journal of Religion and Health
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health 4/2017

01-08-2017 | Original Paper

Moral Injury and Definitional Clarity: Betrayal, Spirituality and the Role of Chaplains

Authors: Timothy J. Hodgson, Lindsay B. Carey

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 4/2017

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Abstract

This article explores the developing definition of moral injury within the current key literature. Building on the previous literature regarding ‘Moral Injury, Spiritual Care and the role of Chaplains’ (Carey et al. in JORH 55(4):1218–1245, 2016b. doi:10.​1007/​s10943-016-0231-x), this article notes the complexity that has developed due to definitional variations regarding moral injury—particularly with respect to the concepts of ‘betrayal’ and ‘spirituality’. Given the increasing recognition of moral injury and noting the relevance and importance of utilizing a bio-psycho-social-spiritual model, this article argues that betrayal and spirituality should be core components for understanding, defining and addressing moral injury. It also supports the role of chaplains being involved in the holistic care and rehabilitation of those affected by moral injury.
Footnotes
1
Pejorative: adjective—expressing content or disproval of someone or something in a way that is contemptuous, disparaging, derogatory, insulting, disapproving, defamatory, slanderous and libellous.
 
2
Soul: noun—can be defined as a person’s moral, emotional or spiritual nature or sense of identity that is an immaterial part of a human being and often regarded as immortal or eternal.
 
3
Consensus definition of spirituality (Puchalski et al. 2009): this definition of spirituality has served as a basis for new and modified definitions of spirituality that have subsequently added words such as connected ‘with God’ (e.g., ADF-RACS 2016) or ‘transcendence’ (e.g., Hall et al, 2016, p. 4).
 
4
‘Camel through the eye of a needle’ is a proverb noted within Judaism, Christianity and subsequently Islam expressing the unlikeliness of an occurrence ever happening.
 
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Metadata
Title
Moral Injury and Definitional Clarity: Betrayal, Spirituality and the Role of Chaplains
Authors
Timothy J. Hodgson
Lindsay B. Carey
Publication date
01-08-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0407-z

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