Pastoral caregivers, because their work focuses primarily on the fields of theology and psychology, have often neglected to take into account the social forces that affect both the careseeker and the caregiver. In this ground-breaking book, sociologist and chaplain George Furniss introduces a third discipline, sociology, for them to draw upon in their work. Tailoring the book to meet the specific needs of pastoral caregivers. Furniss offers a "sampler" of sociological approaches that are particularly relevant to those in the field. Included also are brief biographical notes and a glossary of terms.