ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with a brief examination of the attitudes and beliefs of faith communities toward human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected and affected persons. It addresses the notion of illness as punishment as well as the punishment of illness. The chapter discusses the attitudes of HIV infected and affected persons toward religion and spirituality. It explores the impact of religion and spirituality on well-being and end with an exploration of the impact of the new acquired immunodeficiency syndrome therapeutics on well being and spirituality. The condemnation of the gay lifestyle, as well as the fear of a strange new disease, resulted in a non-welcoming attitude, if not outright hostility, toward HIV-infected persons on the part of many religious denominations in the 1980s. The notion of illness as punishment for promiscuity and other behaviors is widespread among both HIV-infected and uninfected persons. The response to HIV infected persons has been one of ostracism and discrimination in the family, workplace, and community.
