Pleasure-suffering experiences in the work of protestant leaders

Abstract

This study discusses the relationship between the production context of two religious organizations and the experiences of pleasure and suffering of their leaders at work. One hundred religious leaders belonging to a traditional protestant organization and one hundred from a neo-pentecostal organization participated. Two questionnaires were completed: one to evaluate the context of the production of goods and services and another to evaluate pleasure and suffering at work. Despite the different organizational structures, the results pointed to similar moderate and positive evaluations of the production context, a strong experience of pleasure and a moderate experience of suffering. Generally speaking, pleasure is related to the possibility of employing transcendental values at work, a deeper sense of meaning and purpose of work and having greater contact with the community. On the other hand, suffering is related to diversity of activities, excessive work load, lack of organizational support, and accountability for results.

Suffering; Pleasure; Religious personal