Responsibility is routinely overlooked, manipulated, and oversimplified. In Scandalous Obligation, Eric Severson explores the scope of Christian responsibility. This book delves into the slippery nature of obligation, the dilemma of competing calls for justice, and the perilous temptation to dismiss or avoid responsibility. Using examples from popular culture Severson casts an expansive and often daunting vision of responsibility that challenges the status quo.This book presses readers to consider the many complications that arise when Christians begin to understand the extent of their responsibility for the suffering that abounds in the world. It explores how Christians are to turn this approach to responsibility toward the clouds of injustice and pain that hang over our world today. With a brilliant use of Scripture, illustrations, and insights from classical literature and philosophy, Eric Severson makes us aware in this book that sin is not simply the breaking of rules, but is living with indifference to the needs of others when confronted by those needs.'--Tony CampoloProfessor Emeritus of Sociology, Eastern UniversityAuthor, Adventures in Missing the Point, Red Letter Christians In an era when so many Christians confuse their ethics with their politics, Severson summons the followers of Christ to once again take note of the 'alien at the gate.' Scandalous Obligation is a disturbing wake-up call to a church grown self-absorbed and complacent.'--Karl GibersonVice President, BioLogos FoundationCo-author, The Language of Faith and Science

1. This book is written for clinicians and academics in philosophy and psychology and will be particularly helpful to psychologists looking for wisdom to help them in their work with contemporary clients: people beset by a range of problems, new and old, that are rattling the psychological state of modern persons. 2. The essays insist on creative and relevant reflections on the relationship between rigorous philosophy and the lived-experience of human persons. 3. Comprising the most cutting-edge reflections on Gendlin's work, this volume focuses on hyper-contemporary issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the implication of Black Lives Matter on the global discussion of racism and racial discrimination.

1. This book is written for clinicians and academics in philosophy and psychology and will be particularly helpful to psychologists looking for wisdom to help them in their work with contemporary clients: people beset by a range of problems, new and old, that are rattling the psychological state of modern persons. 2. The essays insist on creative and relevant reflections on the relationship between rigorous philosophy and the lived-experience of human persons. 3. Comprising the most cutting-edge reflections on Gendlin's work, this volume focuses on hyper-contemporary issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the implication of Black Lives Matter on the global discussion of racism and racial discrimination.

This timely collection asks the reader to consider how society's modern notion of humans as rational, isolated individuals has contributed to psychological and social problems and oppressive power structures. Experts from a range of disciplines offer a complex understanding of how humans are shaped by history, tradition, and institutions. Drawing upon the work of Lacan, Fanon, and Foucault, this text examines cultural memory, modern ideas of race and gender, the roles of symbolism and mythology, and neoliberalism's impact on psychology. Through clinical vignettes and suggested applications, it demonstrates significant alternatives to the isolated individualism of Western philosophy and psychology. This interdisciplinary volume is essential reading for clinicians and anyone looking to augment their understanding of how human beings are shaped by the societies they inhabit.

Memories and Monsters explores the nature of the monstrous or uncanny, and the way psychological trauma relates to memory and narration. This interdisciplinary book works on the borderland between psychology and philosophy, drawing from scholars in both fields who have helped mould the bourgeoning field of relational psychoanalysis and phenomenological and existential psychology. The editors have sought out contributions to this field that speak to the pressing question: how are we to attend to and contend with our monsters? The authors in this volume examine the ways in which we might best relate to our monsters, and how the legacies of ancient traumas and anxieties continue to affect our current stories, memories and everyday practices. Covering such manifestations of the monstrous as racism, crimes against humanity, trauma as portrayed in music and art, and the Holocaust, this book explores the impact the uncanny has on our individual and collective psyches. By focusing on a very specific theme, and one that excites the imagination, Memories and Monsters stokes the flames of an important current movement in relational psychoanalysis. It will appeal to psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists, as well as professionals in psychology and graduate school students and tutors in the fields of both psychology and philosophy.

Memories and Monsters explores the nature of the monstrous or uncanny, and the way psychological trauma relates to memory and narration. This interdisciplinary book works on the borderland between psychology and philosophy, drawing from scholars in both fields who have helped mould the bourgeoning field of relational psychoanalysis and phenomenological and existential psychology. The editors have sought out contributions to this field that speak to the pressing question: how are we to attend to and contend with our monsters? The authors in this volume examine the ways in which we might best relate to our monsters, and how the legacies of ancient traumas and anxieties continue to affect our current stories, memories and everyday practices. Covering such manifestations of the monstrous as racism, crimes against humanity, trauma as portrayed in music and art, and the Holocaust, this book explores the impact the uncanny has on our individual and collective psyches. By focusing on a very specific theme, and one that excites the imagination, Memories and Monsters stokes the flames of an important current movement in relational psychoanalysis. It will appeal to psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists, as well as professionals in psychology and graduate school students and tutors in the fields of both psychology and philosophy.

This timely collection asks the reader to consider how society's modern notion of humans as rational, isolated individuals has contributed to psychological and social problems and oppressive power structures. Experts from a range of disciplines offer a complex understanding of how humans are shaped by history, tradition, and institutions. Drawing upon the work of Lacan, Fanon, and Foucault, this text examines cultural memory, modern ideas of race and gender, the roles of symbolism and mythology, and neoliberalism's impact on psychology. Through clinical vignettes and suggested applications, it demonstrates significant alternatives to the isolated individualism of Western philosophy and psychology. This interdisciplinary volume is essential reading for clinicians and anyone looking to augment their understanding of how human beings are shaped by the societies they inhabit.

Description: This collection of primary documents from Christian history spans the second to eighteenth centuries (Irenaeus to George Whitefield). Severson has chosen writings that all deal with the interpretation of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31-46). Endorsements: ""Severson's The Least of These is a unique and brilliant contribution to theological pedagogy. Taking a central biblical text, it illustrates the development, twists, and turns of Christian theology from the beginning up to the eighteenth century with commentaries on that text from a host of extremely diverse theologians. Although intended for beginners, this volume is even more helpful to students (and professors ) with enough background to say, 'Aha Wesley's sermon on this one text expresses his entire sanctification theology.'"" --Robert Cummings Neville, Boston University author of Behind the Masks of God ""In compiling and editing this collection Severson exhibits the rare talent of being able to combine intellectual imagination, biblical scholarship, and sheer human compassion in these illuminating readings of a crucial scriptural passage."" --Richard Kearney, Boston College author of States of Mind: Dialogues with Contemporary Thinkers ""In search of a better way of teaching theology, Severson brings a fresh eye not only to the fields of Christian history and theology, but to biblical studies and homiletics. This stunningly concise and pedagogically useful text engages students in the best of theological work--the pursuit of bringing scripture to life. Reading the canonical figures in this way, Severson gathers all readers around Matthew 25, extending the same challenge: How do we interpret this parable for our times? Envisioning the teaching of theology after the era of systematics, Severson presents biblical theology in a new key."" --Shelly Rambo, Boston University About the Contributor(s): Eric R. Severson is Assistant Professor of Religion at Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, Massachusetts.