This volume offers a detailed analysis of how the current phase of capitalism is eating away at social, interpersonal, and psychological health. Drawing upon an interdisciplinary body of research, Bruce Rogers-Vaughn describes an emerging form of human distress-what he calls 'third order suffering'-that is rapidly becoming normative. Moreover, this new paradigm of affliction is increasingly entangled with already-existing genres of misery, such as sexism, racism, and class struggle, mutating their appearances and mystifying their intersections. Along the way, Rogers-Vaughn presents stimulating reflections on how widespread views regarding secularization and postmodernity may divert attention from contemporary capitalism as the material origin of these developments. Finally, he explores his own clinical practice, which yields clues for addressing the double unconsciousness of third order suffering and outlining a vision for caring for souls in these troubling times.  

This volume offers a detailed analysis of how the current phase of capitalism is eating away at social, interpersonal, and psychological health. Drawing upon an interdisciplinary body of research, Bruce Rogers-Vaughn describes an emerging form of human distress—what he calls ‘third order suffering’—that is rapidly becoming normative. Moreover, this new paradigm of affliction is increasingly entangled with already-existing genres of misery, such as sexism, racism, and class struggle, mutating their appearances and mystifying their intersections. Along the way, Rogers-Vaughn presents stimulating reflections on how widespread views regarding secularization and postmodernity may divert attention from contemporary capitalism as the material origin of these developments. Finally, he explores his own clinical practice, which yields clues for addressing the double unconsciousness of third order suffering and outlining a vision for caring for souls in these troubling times.  

This will be the first book of pastoral theology to address the transformations within capitalism that began to emerge during the 1970's and 1980's. Specifically, these developments widely recognized under the term 'neoliberalism' constitute a hegemony (or paradigm) that is now global. Previous publications in this field have not acknowledged the hegemonic scope and power of these developments, particularly the manner in which neoliberalism has altered how, why, and to what extent human beings suffer. Given that pastoral theology takes its cue from suffering, the book argues that these developments require a revision of the discipline. Furthermore, it describes precisely how neoliberal capitalism has reshaped human suffering, why a reorientation of the field is therefore necessary, and outlines key elements for such a revision.