Listening as a Symbol of Religion: A Chaplain's Response

Chaplains offer a different perspective for this discussion as they are at once religious professionals, but often working in secular settings. As religious professionals they are seen as persons who represent a particular religion and yet must be available to persons of all faiths. In this context, chaplains do understand and define religion because in the course of their work they also understand that some people do not believe in religion. A chaplain's ministry is to both believer and nonbeliever. Chaplains may have greater difficulty incorporating spirituality into their work if they are from a religious tradition that does not generally include this concept in their work. Chaplains are practitioners who work directly with the dual role of religious professional working with the tools of religion and yet often operating in secular settings.