Interfaith Chaplaincy as Interpretive Hospitality

Hospital chaplaincy must reconcile competing epistemologies of health and salvation (Christian, clinical, holistic, etc.), but when done in interfaith situations this task becomes more difficult. As current models of spiritual care are insufficient, this paper proposes a paradigm based on Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutics of translation, as adapted for comparative theology by Marianne Moyaert. In particular, it looks at his idea of linguistic hospitality as a way to structure relations, spiritual assessments, and pastoral interventions in interfaith chaplaincy without reducing the unique strangeness of “the Other”. Furthermore, a practical, performative (ritual) hospitality can overcome the epistemological and soteriological obstacles that have frustrated systematic theologies of religion.

The Problem of Global Interfaith Chaplaincy: The Case of Hong Kong

In theU.S.and Europe, clinical spiritual care (hospital chaplaincy) is a non-sectarian ministry meant to provide support to all persons, regardless of faith. This model faces a challenge in religiously pluralistic settings like Hong Kong, where caregiving is provided by devout practitioners from conservative Christian traditions. Conflicts regarding ultimate Truth, salvation, and ethics—largely avoided by pastoral theology—are laid bare in such contexts. The theological approaches of academic fields like theology of religions and comparative/interreligious theology are useful for understanding the various perspectives involved, but do not resolve the tension between individual religious beliefs and the demands of a public interfaith ministry. The unique characteristics of Chinese spirituality and religion further complicate matters. Ultimately, what is needed is a theological paradigm of care that does not neglect the critical truth-claims of those religions involved, including the desire to evangelize.