Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
The Veerhuis is a hospice that has been founded on humanistic principles. Whereas many hospices have a religious base, the foundation of a hospice on humanistic principles is a fairly unique...Show moreThe Veerhuis is a hospice that has been founded on humanistic principles. Whereas many hospices have a religious base, the foundation of a hospice on humanistic principles is a fairly unique phenomenon. The intended purpose of the humanistic base is to make everyone, both residents and volunteers, feel welcome in this hospice. However, the term humanism implies, from a philosophical point of view, a critical stance towards religious beliefs. Since Hospice Veerhuis does not make any value judgements regarding religion, it can be concluded that humanism merely serves as a method to create a neutral environment in which everyone can feel comfortable according to their own moral principles. The result is a highly diverse team of volunteers. The data demonstrate that the team of volunteers is made up of people with different motivations to become a hospice volunteer, varying ideas on death and dying, and religious and spiritual beliefs. Four volunteers serve as archetypes to demonstrate the high degree of diversity that exists within this hospice.Show less
