| Summary: | A core element of spirituality implies the search for meaning and making sense of illness, pain and suffering (IPS). What children are taught regarding the meaning of IPS might determine how they will experience hospitalisation and medical encounters. This study forms part of a larger study into the role Christian churches play in rendering spiritual support to children in the healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe: (1) the viewpoints of the different Christian churches in South Africa with regard to IPS, and (2) the way these viewpoints are communicated to children. An explorative-descriptive, qualitative research design was used and semi-structured interviews, consisting of a set of open-ended questions, were conducted with representatives of the major church groups of the Christian faith in South Africa. The viewpoints on IPS, as expressed by the representatives from the different churches, were diverse and often conflicting, and the following themes emerged: (1) The role of God, (2) Evil forces, (3) Sin, (4) The greater good, (5) Physical, (6) A broken world. This study has demonstrated that the viewpoints on IPS is quite variable within Christian churches, and it is important to be aware of this when interacting with children in a health care setting as their viewpoints on IPS may be expected to be divergent as well.
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