Pub Date : 2022-02-25DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2022.2039341
R. K. Chigangaidze, Patience Chinyenze
ABSTRACT Ubuntu is a relational philosophy which is best known through the axiom, ‘umuntu ngubuntu ngabantu’ a person is a person through other persons. Transactional Analysis (TA) as a relational theory as well, is used in this paper, to expand on the understanding of the Ubuntu proverb. Existential life position, ‘I’m OK, You’re OK’ and constructs of TA such as transgenerational scripts, stroking and physis are utilized to expand on the meaning of ‘umuntu ngubuntu ngabantu.’ Based on the provisions of TA, the African axiom is connected to aspects of child development, parenting, communication, sustainable development, spirituality and ecological social work. Significantly, the discourse argues that ‘umuntu ngubuntu ngabantu’ should never be divorced from the values of the African philosophy which include kindness, forgiveness, hospitality, humanness, social justice, human rights, social solidarity, liberty and other positive virtues. Thus, this paper is a plea for a TA and ubuntu informed social work practice that can entangle humanity from the negative transactional scripts whilst reinforcing the positive ones. To its end, the paper questions what this generation will be remembered for when it becomes the living dead (ancestors).
{"title":"What it means to say, ‘a person is a person through other persons’: Ubuntu through humanistic-existential lenses of transactional analysis","authors":"R. K. Chigangaidze, Patience Chinyenze","doi":"10.1080/15426432.2022.2039341","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2022.2039341","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Ubuntu is a relational philosophy which is best known through the axiom, ‘umuntu ngubuntu ngabantu’ a person is a person through other persons. Transactional Analysis (TA) as a relational theory as well, is used in this paper, to expand on the understanding of the Ubuntu proverb. Existential life position, ‘I’m OK, You’re OK’ and constructs of TA such as transgenerational scripts, stroking and physis are utilized to expand on the meaning of ‘umuntu ngubuntu ngabantu.’ Based on the provisions of TA, the African axiom is connected to aspects of child development, parenting, communication, sustainable development, spirituality and ecological social work. Significantly, the discourse argues that ‘umuntu ngubuntu ngabantu’ should never be divorced from the values of the African philosophy which include kindness, forgiveness, hospitality, humanness, social justice, human rights, social solidarity, liberty and other positive virtues. Thus, this paper is a plea for a TA and ubuntu informed social work practice that can entangle humanity from the negative transactional scripts whilst reinforcing the positive ones. To its end, the paper questions what this generation will be remembered for when it becomes the living dead (ancestors).","PeriodicalId":45302,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK","volume":"26 1","pages":"280 - 295"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89887025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2022.2035518
Eileen A. Dombo
{"title":"The impact of religiosity and spirituality on health and mental health wellbeing","authors":"Eileen A. Dombo","doi":"10.1080/15426432.2022.2035518","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2022.2035518","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45302,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK","volume":"40 1","pages":"1 - 2"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78965437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-12-08DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2021.2011533
Logan Knight, Kaitlin Casassa, Njeri Kagotho
ABSTRACT Faith-based organizations are important partners in anti-trafficking efforts due to their familiarity with local threats and commitment to safeguarding their communities. However, differences in values and beliefs can create challenges for collaborations between faith-based organizations, social work, and other sectors. This study used a culturally sensitive qualitative inquiry of Christian anti-sex-trafficking discourse through dialogue with faith leaders, in order to uncover shared values between Christian anti-sex trafficking and social work as a foundation for ethical collaboration, and to identify areas of differences where further dialogue is necessary to promote respect for diverse viewpoints and to advocate for sex trafficking survivors.
{"title":"Dignity and worth for all: identifying shared values between social work and Christian faith-based groups’ anti-sex trafficking discourse","authors":"Logan Knight, Kaitlin Casassa, Njeri Kagotho","doi":"10.1080/15426432.2021.2011533","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2021.2011533","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Faith-based organizations are important partners in anti-trafficking efforts due to their familiarity with local threats and commitment to safeguarding their communities. However, differences in values and beliefs can create challenges for collaborations between faith-based organizations, social work, and other sectors. This study used a culturally sensitive qualitative inquiry of Christian anti-sex-trafficking discourse through dialogue with faith leaders, in order to uncover shared values between Christian anti-sex trafficking and social work as a foundation for ethical collaboration, and to identify areas of differences where further dialogue is necessary to promote respect for diverse viewpoints and to advocate for sex trafficking survivors.","PeriodicalId":45302,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK","volume":"12 1","pages":"193 - 212"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78518325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-12-06DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2021.2009408
R. Shor
ABSTRACT The role of the religious socio-cultural context in the stressors that Ultra-Orthodox Jewish family caregivers of persons with developmental disorders coped with during the COVID-19 period and the role of religion in their ways of coping with these stressors were examined in a qualitative study among 19 caregivers in Israel. The findings indicate that the stressors which the caregivers experienced stemmed primarily from disruptions in the religious socio-cultural context of the family members with disability. They also illuminate the centrality of religious coping mechanisms for the caregivers. Taking this into consideration is essential for providing culturally oriented help for the caregivers.
{"title":"The role of religion in the stressors experienced by Ultra-Orthodox Jewish caregivers of persons with disability during the COVID-19 period","authors":"R. Shor","doi":"10.1080/15426432.2021.2009408","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2021.2009408","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The role of the religious socio-cultural context in the stressors that Ultra-Orthodox Jewish family caregivers of persons with developmental disorders coped with during the COVID-19 period and the role of religion in their ways of coping with these stressors were examined in a qualitative study among 19 caregivers in Israel. The findings indicate that the stressors which the caregivers experienced stemmed primarily from disruptions in the religious socio-cultural context of the family members with disability. They also illuminate the centrality of religious coping mechanisms for the caregivers. Taking this into consideration is essential for providing culturally oriented help for the caregivers.","PeriodicalId":45302,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK","volume":"162 1","pages":"182 - 192"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86302967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-30DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2021.2009407
C. Stewart, Benjamin T. May, Linda Openshaw
ABSTRACT While negative attitudes within the social work community toward clients struggling with addiction may not be ubiquitous, there is evidence that such attitudes remain problematic. Interestingly, while extant research suggests social workers may demonstrate low empathy toward clients with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), there is very little research available concerning factors that may be involved with these adverse attitudes. This study explored the relationship between spirituality, religiosity and attitudes toward clients with SUDs utilizing a sample of social work students and practitioners from two unique geographical locations. Results demonstrated that dimensions of spirituality, including religiosity, have some predictive potential for attitudes toward addiction. Further, the direction can be either positive or negative.
{"title":"Spirituality, religiosity and attitudes toward addiction","authors":"C. Stewart, Benjamin T. May, Linda Openshaw","doi":"10.1080/15426432.2021.2009407","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2021.2009407","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT While negative attitudes within the social work community toward clients struggling with addiction may not be ubiquitous, there is evidence that such attitudes remain problematic. Interestingly, while extant research suggests social workers may demonstrate low empathy toward clients with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), there is very little research available concerning factors that may be involved with these adverse attitudes. This study explored the relationship between spirituality, religiosity and attitudes toward clients with SUDs utilizing a sample of social work students and practitioners from two unique geographical locations. Results demonstrated that dimensions of spirituality, including religiosity, have some predictive potential for attitudes toward addiction. Further, the direction can be either positive or negative.","PeriodicalId":45302,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK","volume":"29 1","pages":"166 - 181"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83065185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-15DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2021.2000553
Mikiko Sato, Pilar Horner, D. Vélez Ortiz, Abbie Nelson
ABSTRACT Natural disasters continue to devastate families and communities across the United States. An important aspect of family resiliency within a disaster context is the role spirituality plays in how families make sense of their experience. Using an arts-based visual research approach, this study explored the role of spirituality in the psychosocial adaptation of displaced Puerto Rican families who resettled in Orlando, Florida post-Hurricane Maria. Three main themes emerged: spirituality through 1) the relinquishment of control, 2) sense of empowerment, and 3) stabilization and security. The data suggest that spirituality plays a critical role in how Puerto Rican families make sense of their displacement experience and find the strength and motivation to adapt and move forward. The findings provide important insights for community-based organizations and religious leaders regarding how Latino families spiritually cope and navigate resettlement after a natural disaster.
{"title":"The role of spirituality in family adjustment and resilience among Puerto Rican families post-Hurricane Maria","authors":"Mikiko Sato, Pilar Horner, D. Vélez Ortiz, Abbie Nelson","doi":"10.1080/15426432.2021.2000553","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2021.2000553","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Natural disasters continue to devastate families and communities across the United States. An important aspect of family resiliency within a disaster context is the role spirituality plays in how families make sense of their experience. Using an arts-based visual research approach, this study explored the role of spirituality in the psychosocial adaptation of displaced Puerto Rican families who resettled in Orlando, Florida post-Hurricane Maria. Three main themes emerged: spirituality through 1) the relinquishment of control, 2) sense of empowerment, and 3) stabilization and security. The data suggest that spirituality plays a critical role in how Puerto Rican families make sense of their displacement experience and find the strength and motivation to adapt and move forward. The findings provide important insights for community-based organizations and religious leaders regarding how Latino families spiritually cope and navigate resettlement after a natural disaster.","PeriodicalId":45302,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK","volume":"10 1","pages":"90 - 103"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81559836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-31DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2021.1994099
D. Drew, J. Banks, R. Joseph
ABSTRACT This study explored whether license-holding mental health professionals exhibit comfort/discomfort in addressing religion and spirituality (RS) in practice. Through snowball sampling, 52 clinicians across different fields were recruited across Southern California. The participants were measured descriptively based on (a) comfort in their ability to integrate clients’ RS in treatment and (b) their comfort discussing clients’ RS strengths and struggles in treatment. Results revealed that, among practitioners, there was a 15–25% level of discomfort toward integrating and discussing RS in treatment. That is, between 75% and 85% of participants reported comfort in dealing with RS in practice. Licensed clinical social workers reported slightly lower discomfort level than other licensed professionals. However, Mann-Whitney U Test results revealed that field of practice (social workers versus non social workers) does not significantly correlate with comfort addressing and discussing RS in treatment. Implications of the findings were discussed.
{"title":"Religion and spirituality in clinical practice: an exploration of comfort and discomfort among practitioners","authors":"D. Drew, J. Banks, R. Joseph","doi":"10.1080/15426432.2021.1994099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2021.1994099","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study explored whether license-holding mental health professionals exhibit comfort/discomfort in addressing religion and spirituality (RS) in practice. Through snowball sampling, 52 clinicians across different fields were recruited across Southern California. The participants were measured descriptively based on (a) comfort in their ability to integrate clients’ RS in treatment and (b) their comfort discussing clients’ RS strengths and struggles in treatment. Results revealed that, among practitioners, there was a 15–25% level of discomfort toward integrating and discussing RS in treatment. That is, between 75% and 85% of participants reported comfort in dealing with RS in practice. Licensed clinical social workers reported slightly lower discomfort level than other licensed professionals. However, Mann-Whitney U Test results revealed that field of practice (social workers versus non social workers) does not significantly correlate with comfort addressing and discussing RS in treatment. Implications of the findings were discussed.","PeriodicalId":45302,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK","volume":"204 1","pages":"104 - 120"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77029815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-18DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2021.1978124
S. Flynn
ABSTRACT Critical commentary on the literature addresses the relationship between Roman Catholicism and professional social work in the Republic of Ireland. The context is a series of highly publicized clerical-abuse scandals and controversies associated with institutional segregation. Focused commentary operates in two phases across six subthemes. Thereafter application of a dynamic model of social work progresses insights from the former review toward learning for practitioners moving forward. It is concluded that sensitivity to the implications of tragedies and controversies for survivors and their families remains an ethical imperative in Irish social work practice. Within this, sensitivity that goes beyond rhetoric and sentiment to achieve a meaningfully sensitive approach to practice is most needed and will be strongest when operationalized within set parameters.
{"title":"Literature on Professional Social Work and Controversies Surrounding Roman Catholicism in the Republic of Ireland: Adapting the Dynamic Model","authors":"S. Flynn","doi":"10.1080/15426432.2021.1978124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2021.1978124","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Critical commentary on the literature addresses the relationship between Roman Catholicism and professional social work in the Republic of Ireland. The context is a series of highly publicized clerical-abuse scandals and controversies associated with institutional segregation. Focused commentary operates in two phases across six subthemes. Thereafter application of a dynamic model of social work progresses insights from the former review toward learning for practitioners moving forward. It is concluded that sensitivity to the implications of tragedies and controversies for survivors and their families remains an ethical imperative in Irish social work practice. Within this, sensitivity that goes beyond rhetoric and sentiment to achieve a meaningfully sensitive approach to practice is most needed and will be strongest when operationalized within set parameters.","PeriodicalId":45302,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK","volume":"2 1","pages":"143 - 165"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86372724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-03DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2021.1977761
Hien T. Kim Nguyen, Thomas K Kenemore
ABSTRACT A qualitative inquiry study explores how religious vowed people experience forgiveness. Fourteen religious vowed men and women, living in relatively closed communities, shared their experiences of forgiveness over a lifetime of service. Grounded theory principals were utilized in data collection and analysis. Findings include a thematic description of how forgiveness is explained as an ongoing process involving offenses and transgressions, motivations, and challenges. Internal and social influences are discussed. Religious, spiritual, and family influences are identified, as well as community context. Forgiveness understanding is experienced as changing over time. Recommendations for counselors and other service providers are shared, and future qualitative exploration of the experiences of a wide range of cultural and religious groups is suggested.
{"title":"Forgiveness experiences of women and men in Catholic religious orders","authors":"Hien T. Kim Nguyen, Thomas K Kenemore","doi":"10.1080/15426432.2021.1977761","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2021.1977761","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A qualitative inquiry study explores how religious vowed people experience forgiveness. Fourteen religious vowed men and women, living in relatively closed communities, shared their experiences of forgiveness over a lifetime of service. Grounded theory principals were utilized in data collection and analysis. Findings include a thematic description of how forgiveness is explained as an ongoing process involving offenses and transgressions, motivations, and challenges. Internal and social influences are discussed. Religious, spiritual, and family influences are identified, as well as community context. Forgiveness understanding is experienced as changing over time. Recommendations for counselors and other service providers are shared, and future qualitative exploration of the experiences of a wide range of cultural and religious groups is suggested.","PeriodicalId":45302,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK","volume":"12 1","pages":"123 - 142"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86483672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-02DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2021.2001726
Eileen A. Dombo
In this fourth and final issue of 2021, the reader will find six original manuscripts that address the impact of religious and spiritual traditions on social work practice from Alabama, USA, Israel, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. In these rich and thought-provoking pieces, we consider Islamic, Roman Catholic, and Ashtanga practices and beliefs that can, at times, foster and/or conflict with social work professional values and practices. These concerns may underlie the resistance that some social work education leaders have with integrating religion and spirituality into curricula, which is also discussed in this issue. Understanding the spiritual/religious practices of those we serve, as well as navigating the potential conflicts between personal beliefs and professional practices, are ethical obligations for social workers (Reamer, 2018). Given the current focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in social work education today (Woo et al., 2021), a social worker’s personal comfort or discomfort with religion and/or spirituality must be considered accordingly. Failure to address religion and spirituality in social work curricula, and therefore social work practice, is to send a message that it is acceptable to sidestep an important dimension of identity for many of the people social workers will encounter in their work. Would this be acceptable for any other dimension of identity? Yet the recent research by Woo et al. (2021) showed that religion was included in only 13.5% of the courses covering equity and justice issues. The articles in this issue provide strong examples of how social worker can navigate potential conflicts between religious and professional values. There are many rich and relevant studies and scholarly works in progress that focus on religion and spirituality in social work practice. Disseminating this work is the purpose of this journal, and of significance in this issue is the research by Moffatt and colleagues on integrating religion and spirituality into the MSW curriculum. Their study is the first to include a sampling of MSW program leaders across the United States to explore the factors that hinder or facilitate including religion and spirituality in coursework. Of significance are the
{"title":"The influence of religious and spiritual traditions on social work practice across the globe; does it influence social work education?","authors":"Eileen A. Dombo","doi":"10.1080/15426432.2021.2001726","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2021.2001726","url":null,"abstract":"In this fourth and final issue of 2021, the reader will find six original manuscripts that address the impact of religious and spiritual traditions on social work practice from Alabama, USA, Israel, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. In these rich and thought-provoking pieces, we consider Islamic, Roman Catholic, and Ashtanga practices and beliefs that can, at times, foster and/or conflict with social work professional values and practices. These concerns may underlie the resistance that some social work education leaders have with integrating religion and spirituality into curricula, which is also discussed in this issue. Understanding the spiritual/religious practices of those we serve, as well as navigating the potential conflicts between personal beliefs and professional practices, are ethical obligations for social workers (Reamer, 2018). Given the current focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in social work education today (Woo et al., 2021), a social worker’s personal comfort or discomfort with religion and/or spirituality must be considered accordingly. Failure to address religion and spirituality in social work curricula, and therefore social work practice, is to send a message that it is acceptable to sidestep an important dimension of identity for many of the people social workers will encounter in their work. Would this be acceptable for any other dimension of identity? Yet the recent research by Woo et al. (2021) showed that religion was included in only 13.5% of the courses covering equity and justice issues. The articles in this issue provide strong examples of how social worker can navigate potential conflicts between religious and professional values. There are many rich and relevant studies and scholarly works in progress that focus on religion and spirituality in social work practice. Disseminating this work is the purpose of this journal, and of significance in this issue is the research by Moffatt and colleagues on integrating religion and spirituality into the MSW curriculum. Their study is the first to include a sampling of MSW program leaders across the United States to explore the factors that hinder or facilitate including religion and spirituality in coursework. Of significance are the","PeriodicalId":45302,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK","volume":"95 1","pages":"369 - 370"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80423926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}