The creation of an audio cassette tape for ministry to oncology patients at the University of North Carolina Hospitals at Chapel Hill

Pastoral care is part of a holistic approach to health care. Holistic health care begins with the understanding that all aspects of a person must be taken into account in treating disease. This dissertation discusses the individual, healing, and meditation from three perspectives: theological/spirit, psychological/mind, and physiological/body. The project is based upon a holistic approach to healing, using a relaxation meditation to invite the patient actively to participate in his/her healing and growth toward wholeness.

In the Gospels, the healing stories involve more than physical healing. They concern salvation itself. The healing acts occur in a religious context of meaning. As the power of sickness and misfortune is conquered, the inbreaking of the Realm of God is signaled, making God's ruling love known. Christ's followers are called to the same healing work to which Christ was called.

Sickness is an experience of physical and spiritual suffering, which elicits the question of meaning. This dissertation cites patients' own stories addressing the following questions: How does the patient's theology change as he/she struggles with this critical illness? What new perspective on life can come from facing death? How is one's relationship with God affected? How can one maintain an attitude of hope and faith while living with a life-threatening illness?

The patient's attitudes, perceptions, and emotions make a difference in how his/her immune system functions. Faith, optimism, hope, and humor are instrumental in the healing process. The body's biochemical reactions to stress result in lessened immunological activity and increase the body's susceptibility to illness. Such a suppression of the immune system may lead to the development of cancer. Since the brain and the immune system are in constant communication, the practice of meditation may positively affect the immune system as the relaxation response is induced. Initial studies report that meditation seems to promote healing.

An audio tape of a relaxation exercise with guided imagery that elicited the relaxation response was made and utilized with cancer patients. The patients' responses were recorded and evaluated. This intervention provided a way to mobilize the patients' spiritual resources to promote healing.