In the Wake of Disaster: Religious Responses to Terrorism and Catastrophe

by Harold G Koenig

Overview

In a timely book with a powerful and persuasive message, Dr. Harold G. Koenig addresses federal, state, and local government policy leaders, urging them to more fully integrate religious organizations into the formal disaster response system, and he then provides recommendations on how this can effectively be done. Koenig also advocates faith communities and organizations to learn more about the role they can play in responding to disasters and terrorism.

The chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina made extraordinarily clear the gaps in the United States' disaster policies. At the same time, the contributions of organized faith communities were highlights amidst the bungled federal, state, and local responses. One example is the New York Times, September 9, 2005, headline: "A New Meaning for 'Organized Religion': It Helps the Needy Quickly." But as faith-based organizations look for ways to help, there are few, if any, guidelines for them.   This book provides information on the psychological, social, and spiritual responses to trauma. It addresses how the emergency response system works, and the role that religious communities can play in disaster response and recovery in terms of providing emotional and spiritual care for victims. It advocates integrating mental health into emergency response systems directed at those affected by hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and terrorism. "The aim is to help victims of disaster to better cope with the stresses they face, as well as help direct care workers (firefighters, police, health care providers, etc.) to deal better emotionally with the trauma to which they are exposed so they can remain effective and functional on the job," explains Dr. Koenig, whose research on the healing power of faith has been published worldwide.   Increasing the resiliency of our communities in the face of disaster is crucial. Religious communities have tremendous potential to contribute to this. Here are guidelines on how to do that more effectively, alongside data on how to facilitate the integration of these contributions with the formal disaster-response system.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781599471884
Publisher:	Templeton Press
Publication date:	05/01/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	184
File size:	816 KB

About the Author

Harold G. Koenig, MD, is board certified in general psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, and geriatric medicine. He is on the faculty at Duke as professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate professor of medicine. Dr. Koenig is Director of Duke’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health and has published extensively in the fields of mental health, geriatrics, and religion, with over 350 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and close to 40 books in print or in preparation. He is also a registered nurse.

Table of Contents

Preface / ix

Acknowledgments / xiii

Introduction / xv

1. Psychological and Spiritual Consequences of Disasters / 1

2. National, State, and Local Disaster Planning and Response / 13

3. Religion and Coping with Stress and Disaster / 29

4. The Faith Community’s Role during Disaster / 43

5. Faith-Based Organizations Involved in Disaster Response / 55

6. Coordinating Faith-Based Efforts at the Local Level / 75

7. Preparing Faith Communities for Disaster / 83

8. Barriers and Obstacles to Integration / 97

9. Overcoming the Barriers / 109

10. Final Comments / 121

Resources / 123

Glossary of Terms and Definitions / 139

Notes / 143

Index / 157