Creating Holy Spaces in Hospital Rooms:

How Martin Buber’s Philosophies Might Inform and Impact Pediatric Chaplaincy

Relationship-building is at the core of healthcare chaplaincy; chaplains provide spiritual care through moments of loss of identity or direction, forging relationships through the creation of questions and conversations. In pediatric settings, chaplains hold space for the expression of hurt and of hope, and may transform a hospital room into a holy space of healing.

Martin Buber’s relational philosophy teaches that there are two ways of being in relationship: either directly (I-Thou) or indirectly (I-It). In my thesis, I analyze how Martin Buber’s relational, dialogical, and educational philosophies can both inform and impact pediatric chaplaincy, providing a strong framework for understanding how these deep relationships with pediatric patients can form and function in a hospital setting.