Any takers?

Hi all! I am not directly involved in this study, but I do support increasing the body of knowledge, so if you want to become involved, just follow the directions below. Thanks!!! ***

A Study of the Spiritual Aspects of Illness

When There is No Personal God

Sponsored by: the GW Center for Integrative Medicine

and

Landis M. Vance, Ph.D.(c) of the Union Institute and University.

Purpose: to learn about the spiritual experiences of people who do not believe in a personal God (interested and intervening in human affairs) as they adjust to, and live with recurrent or persistent illness, or a longstanding illness that is currently controlled? (ex. cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, depression, HIV, hypertension.)

Who: Anyone over 18 years of age with a diagnosis of a persistent or recurrent illness or condition, or a longstanding illness that is currently controlled. Candidates do not need to be experiencing symptoms NOW to participate. If a candidate is in remission, or has symptoms controlled by medication, they are still eligible. Must speak English at least a fifth grade level.

Why: Over the past few years, biomedicine has begun to understand the role that one’s spirit plays in quality of life and healing from or adjusting to illness. Unfortunately, the vast majority of research that has been done in this area is based upon the predominant Judeo-Christian belief in a personal God. People who do not believe in this manner are not understood or, worse, ignored. Yet all people have a spiritual nature that finds expression in such things as belief in God, love for one’s family, enjoying music or sunsets. All of these are aspects of one’s spirituality.

What Would Be Involved: If you are interested in participating, you will be contacted by telephone to explain the research in more detail, and you will be asked to sign a consent form that indicates your formal willingness to be interviewed. The initial interview will also take place over the telephone and should require no more than 30 minutes of your time. From these initial interviews, we will be assembling the most diverse group of eight individuals (age, diagnosis, time since diagnosis, gender, ethnic background, etc.) for further interviews. These additional interviews will take place at the Center for Integrative Medicine and may require a total of two hours of your time, including interview and follow-up telephone calls.

Contact: If you would be willing to help us with this project, and you are a person with such a medical condition and do not believe in a personal God who cares about and intervenes in individual human affairs, please contact Landis Vance directly through one of the following methods:

Email: landis.vance@tui.edu

Telephone: 202-329-9756

or in writing to:

Ms. Landis M. Vance, Ph.D.(c)

c/o The GW Center for Integrative Medicine

908 New Hampshire Ave Suite 200 Washington, DC 20037