Chaplaincy in secularizing, plural societies

This chapter provides a conceptualization of chaplaincy in contemporary Western secularizing and plural societies. This conceptualization is grounded in an understanding of chaplaincy as care for processes of (re)orientation in life. It is argued that this view of chaplaincy does justice both to the historical religious roots of the profession and to the diverse, dynamic, and individualized ways in which people these days search for meaning. The question of what characterizes chaplaincy for a plural world is explored along three lines: in terms of chaplains’ specific competencies as specialist spiritual caregivers; by explaining the role of chaplains’ worldviews in their professionalism; and by designating the distinctive aim of chaplaincy. This aim – having a sense of orientation in life – is then specified by distinguishing characteristic goals of the profession at the micro-, meso-, and macro-level of chaplaincy.