In einer pluralen Gesellschaft ist auch der Alltag der Seelsorge durch den Kontakt mit Menschen aus unterschiedlichen kulturellen und religiösen Kontexten geprägt. Von daher soll die Forschung und die Lehre in diesem Bereich ein Verständnis für die kulturellen und religiösen Voraussetzungen von Seelsorge entwickeln sowie Einsichten in Formen und Arbeitsweisen der Seelsorge gewinnen.
Dr. Abdelmalek Hibaoui, Universität Tübingen
I am a founding member of IASC because today’s increasingly mobile and interconnected world demands that caregivers from a wide spectrum of professions gain competency an interdisciplinary, intercultural and interreligious care. IASC fills a unique role in providing a forum for serious, academic study of theologies and belief systems across faith traditions in the service of care for suffering that integrates spirituality and attends to issues of “ultimate concern” – mind, body, and spirit together.
Prof. Dr. Pamela Cooper–White, Union Theological Seminary, New York
I believe that deep-rooted conflicts create wounds that require healing on a spiritual plane. As we look around the conflict-ridden world in which we live, the importance of spiritual care seems plain for all to see – yet in Western societies we often overlook the spiritual realm. The IASC brings together academics and practitioners from around the world to pool our resources and learn from each other.
Dr. iur. Sarah Bernstein, Director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations (JCJCR)
The IASC offers an important platform to further develop intercultural and interreligious concepts of spiritual care. The IASC seeks to broaden the interdisciplinary network of people working and doing research in the field of spiritual care.
Claudia Kohli Reichenbach, Ph.D., University of Bern
Dealing with the challenges of forced migration on the one hand and of a general societal pluralization on the other hand, research on, exchange about, and developing models of spiritual care are coming to the fore. IASC accepts the challenge and provides an international, intercultural, and interreligious platform to reflect on and to generate appropriate offers. All will benefit.
Dr. Georg Wenz, Vice Director of the Protestant Academy Landau
In increasingly multicultural societies, spiritual care contributes in significant ways to a holistic understanding of suffering humans. Its interdisciplinary and interreligious foundations have to be further developed.
Prof. Dr. em. theol. et phil. Christoph Morgenthaler, Universiy of Bern
Um Menschen in unserer globalisierten Welt zu verstehen, braucht es Wissen um die biologischen Prozesse, sozialen Formen sowie auch die spirituellen und seelischen Zustände und Bedürfnisse – Spiritual Care eine unabdingbare Dimension für eine effektive Behandlung und Betreuung unserer Patienten.
Ulrich von Allmen, Direktor Pflege MTT, Universitatsspital Bern
For optimal care of patients in a time of migration and patients from different religions, the basic knowledge in spiritual care is essential.
Prof. Dr. med. Bruno Vogt, University of Bern
Spiritual Care as a new hybrid multidisciplinary and multiprofessional field needs to be defined and established on a scientific, as well as on a professional level. IASC will bundle synergies toward the shared goal of recognizing Spiritual Care by academics and practitioners.
Prof. Dr. phil. Pasqualina Perrig-Chiello, University of Bern
As the field of existential and spiritual counseling is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary, we urgently need more scientific research and exchange.
International Association for Spiritual Care 