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August Tweetchat: Death with Dignity & Religion and Spirituality

Posted by Melissa Barber on August 16, 2011

Receiving a terminal diagnosis often moves people to reflect more on their spirituality. Some revisit the religious traditions they grew up with. Others discover a different faith resonates more with their current life. Another group becomes grounded in the life and love that surrounds them.

The possibilities are endless, but one thing's for certain: reflection of one's spirituality is typically part of facing life's end. This Thursday, please join us on Twitter to chat about religion and spirituality's role during the dying process and how people of different faiths view Death with Dignity Acts.

This TweetChat is part of a series of monthly conversations about different aspects of dying and Death with Dignity laws. Through TweetChats, Twitter allows an open and candid discussion about a particular subject indicated by a hashtag. (Learn more about hashtags here.) In our case, since we'll chat about Death with Dignity, we'll use #DWDchat as our hashtag. By participating in our TweetChats and tweeting publicly about Death with Dignity you:

  • Raise awareness about Death with Dignity
  • Find and meet others who support Death with Dignity
  • Let your friends and family know why everyone should have the ability to determine the manner and timing of their own deaths when faced with a terminal illness.

Here are the topics for August's chat:

  1. During the dying process what is the role of religion and/or spirituality?
  2. Death with Dignity supporters come from all different faith traditions — including some which disagree with the law. Thoughts?
  3. Medicine's changed how we die. We now turn more to physicians than religious leaders for guidance. How can doctors & spiritual leaders work together?

New to Twitter and TweetChats? Here are some easy steps to join in the fun:

  • When: Thursday, August 18 from 6pm to 7pm Eastern (3pm to 4pm Pacific)
  • Where: TweetChat in the #DWDchat room. Once you're on the webpage for the #DWDchat, this hashtag will automatically be added to your tweet.
  • How:
    1. Sign up on Twitter today
    2. Follow us (we always follow-back)
    3. Click here to go to the TweetChat site
    4. Authorize TweetChat to use your Twitter account by clicking "Sign In"
    5. You're ready to join the discussion!
  • Questions? Email me.
Posted on August 16, 2011 in Religion

Comments

  • Posted by Peggy Firth on Tuesday, August 16 at 01:35 p.m.

    Taking charge of one's death is not going against an angry God. Believing in a God that is outside of ourselves that keeps tabs on our actions is an old idea.
    It falls into the stories we tell our children about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny.

    I believe that our higher self, the part of us that is connected to the universal creative energy, is the Oversoul, the God Force. We can make choices and follow through with them.

  • Posted by gail peters on Tuesday, August 16 at 03:58 p.m.

    I can't seem to sign up for twitter on the comp. Any suggestions? Am very interested in being part of the bigger conversation of TDWD. thanks

  • Posted by Melissa Barber on Monday, August 22 at 11:48 a.m.

    Gail, I'm very sorry for my late reply, and I'm sorry you're having trouble signing up for Twitter.

    I'll send an email to you to see if we can figure out what's going on.

    Best,
    Melissa
    -------------
    Melissa Barber
    Electronic Communications Specialist
    Death with Dignity National Center

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