However, spirituality and religion are not synonymous. Religious belief is one very important way in which many people express their spirituality. But a person can be spiritual without explicit religious belief. And it is not uncommon to discover a poem, or a piece of music or a good meal in the company of friends can provide a context by which one can grow, endure, or, even accept diminishment. Personal spirituality frequently is expressed by forms of religious practice.
Faith provides a variety of personal and communal resources to handle serious illness.
Serious illness causes believers and non-believers alike to face loss, fears, grief, personal mortality and questions of meaning. These are the kind of issues that appropriately are identified, at least partially, as spiritual. Three reasons are readily apparent. First a doctor who inquires about a patient's spirituality gains a deeper insight into the patient's experience. Being a good doctor can be a bit like being a good reader.