If you are concerned about America becoming a theocracy, you will care about this issue. Texas has now made it legal for "chaplains" to serve as counselors in public schools, and other states are following their lead.

Yes, there are chaplains in secular settings like colleges, hospitals, prisons and the military. But they are required to have academic credentials and specialized training that prohibits proselytization.

By contrast, these new school chaplains are "certified" by a Christian ministry called the National School Chaplains Association. The only skills they require are a two-year degree, a statement of faith and ministry experience. For an idea of what this might actually look like in public schools, read this article. And if you care, please sign this petition.

Dr. Terri Daniel, CT, FFGT

Clinical Chaplaincy, End-of-Life Educator

Bereavement and Trauma Support

office@deathgriefandbelief.com

NEWS, ARTICLES AND EDUCATION

An Atheist Chaplain and a Death Row Inmate

Last month the New York Times ran an article about Devin Moss spending a year ministering to convicted killer Phillip Hancock as they wrestled with one question: How to face death without God. READ THE ARTICLE

Bereavement Professionals Share Their Wisdom

There are hundreds of grief books on the market today, and most of them are either autobiographical accounts of someone's personal grief journey or academic treatises for professionals. This just-published book bridges the gap between those two genres with content contributed by credentialed bereavement experts who share wisdom and practical tools based on their counseling expertise and experience. PURCHASE ON AMAZON

Medical Aid in Dying: A First-Hand Account

The Feb. 22 episode of this new NPR podcast is entitled, "She Didn't Want to Die, But She Didn't Want to Suffer." Journalist Steven Petrow talks about his sister's choice to use medical aid in dying (MAID). LISTEN HERE

To learn more about MAID, we recommend reading The Many Faces of Maid: What to Expect When Someone You Know Chooses Medical Assistance in Dying. PURCHASE ON AMAZON

Black "Nones" Leaving Religion

Of the roughly 20% of Black Americans who are religiously unaffiliated, about 1/3 believe in the god of the Bible, and over half believe in some other higher power, according to a January Pew study. Eighty-eight percent believe humans have a soul or spirit, 71% think of themselves as spiritual, and by nearly every other religious or spiritual metric — belief in heaven and hell, daily prayer — Black "nones" come across as more religiously enmeshed than other nonaffiliated groups. READ MORE...

If Your Job Conflicts with Your Ethics, Don't Work There!

A former CVS Health employee filed a federal lawsuit in Florida against the company after she was fired for refusing to prescribe contraceptives due to her religious beliefs. Kristofersdottir is being represented by the religious freedom-oriented legal group First Liberty Institute. Its lawyers argue that the company’s refusal to exempt religious employees from filling contraceptive prescriptions constitutes religion-based discrimination and a Title VII violation. READ MORE...

Religious 'Nones' Are Now

the Largest Single Group in the U.S.

A new study from Pew Research finds that the religiously unaffiliated – a group comprised of atheists, agnostic and those who say their religion is "nothing in particular" – is now the largest cohort in the U.S. They're more prevalent among American adults than Catholics (23%) or evangelical Protestants (24%).

Back in 2007, Nones made up just 16% of Americans, but Pew's new survey of more than 3,300 U.S. adults shows that number has now risen dramatically. READ MORE...

More From Dr. Sam Parnia

About NDEs and Human Consciousness

We highlight Dr. Parnia frequently in this newsletter, because he is today's most notable researcher in the survival of consciousness after death. His breakthrough AWARE study showed that consciousness, awareness and cognitive processes may occur during cardiac arrest, and that the emergence of normal EEG may reflect a resumption of a network-level of cognitive activity, and a biomarker of consciousness, lucidity and RED (authentic "near-death" experiences).

WORKSHOPS, CLASSES

AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Recordings from our January 2024 Symposium

Last month's Symposium on Death and Bereavement Studies was fantastic. Our presenters brought in so much rich content that it was hard to take it in all at once, which is why many attendees will be listening to the recordings to catch whatever they might have missed. If you weren't able to attend, you can purchase the recordings of all the presentations. Click HERE to purchase.

Interested in End-of-Life Work or Spiritual Support

as a Profession?

We recommend these excellent university programs:

Marian University (Masters degree or certificate)

Graduate Theological Union (inter-spiritual chaplaincy program)

Grief Therapy Master Class with Dr. Robert Neimeyer

This class is fully approved for professional continuing education credits by the American Psychological Association, and is also suitable for classroom use in training students and professionals in the art of working with issues of loss in psychotherapy in a way that is informed by clinical research on trauma, attachment, and the human quest for meaning in the wake of devastating life events. DETAILS HERE