Healing Through Medicine and Prayer

The modern world faces religious, spiritual and existential quandaries, as new technologies redefine the beginnings and ends of life.

Excruciating choices arise about when to turn off the machines — whether and when we should “play God.” The COVID-19 pandemic made these dilemmas ever more acute. Increasingly, however, public discourse on religion and spirituality is polarized, with evangelicals on one side and vehement atheists on the other. In his book, Doctor, Will You Pray for Me?: Medicine, Chaplains and Healing the Whole Person, Dr. Robert Klitzman draws on several years of interview research he conducted to explore how, given the political and religious polarization in our country, patients, family member, doctors and chaplains from a wide range of backgrounds — from Orthodox to agnostic, atheist and ‘nothing in particular’ — seek and find sources of meaning, connection and hope when facing serious medical illness. The book weaves together stories of patients and others, illuminating struggles they undergo, and how chaplains, in particular, often help.

Join Dr. Robert Klitzman and Rabbi David Ingber as they share stories about the spiritual lives of patients and explores the role of chaplains — who they are, what they do and the challenges they face.