本論文旨在探討住院臨終病患使用宗教象徵物，對其個人的終極意義。利用詮釋現象學研究方法的現身情境、詮釋學循環、形成結構與意義的步驟逐步進行。透過臨床照護四位病患的現象呈現，本研究發現三個層面的意義：（1）象徵物的表象意義：例如：身體症狀改善、減輕心理壓力、感覺好很多了、等等；（2）象徵物的指涉性意義：即視象徵物為「治療物」、「倫理物與情感物」、「媒介物」；（3）象徵物的終極意義：主要來自主體的超越而成為整體，例如：與神聖世界的締結。所以，當人面對困境時，使用象徵物可以打開個人更寬廣的意義解釋系統。 本研究結果可補充臨床實務工作者新的見解，以回應多變的臨終照護情境時的參考，也可作為靈性照護工作者，在信仰療法上的另一選擇。 The aim of the thesis is to apply hermeneutic-phenomenological method into the research of the various meanings reflective of terminal patients’ use of religious symbols. The main process of this research includes presencing, hermeneutic circling, structure forming and meaning inducing. Based on the phenomenological reflections of the care experience of four patients, we conclude the three aspects of meaning involved:（1）secular meanings, such as, to improve physical symptoms, to reduce mental stress, to feel much better, and so on.（2）substitutive meanings, such as, religious symbols acted as therapeutic objects, ethical/ feeling objects, mediate objects.（3）ultimate meanings that come from transcending of the world as a whole, such as, symbols in relation to personal encounter with the holy. The research outcomes may supplement some new perspectives for clinical caregivers in face of various situations. It also makes us to reappraise of the timing to use the faith therapy in terminal care.
