基督教与现代临终关怀的理念与实践

作为现代医疗体系一部分的临终关怀主要出现和发展于西方社会,其中,西方社会文化中的基督教信仰传统为其提供了重要的思想资源,以及实践的建制、人员和场所。基督教对临终关怀的提供者,以及对于作为其信徒的临终者和亲属所提供的关于生死问题的信仰关怀和安慰,都与其教义和信仰实践有着紧密的关联。了解基督教在历史上以及现代实践中如何影响了现代临终关怀理念和实践,有助于更为全面和深刻地理解现代临终关怀,进而更适切地展开临终关怀服务。

Christianity and the Concepts and Practices of the Modern Hospice

As a part of the modern medical system, hospice mainly developed in the western society, and deeply influenced by the Christian tradition as part of the western culture, not only in terms of thoughts, but also the institution, personnel and place for practices. What Christianity impact on the provider of hospice, and the dying person and his or her relatives, are closely knitted with its doctrines and practices of the faith. To understand how Christianity shaped in a certain sense the modern hospice in history, may help us appreciated more thoroughly modern hospice, and hence better off the practice of hospice service.