New Signs of Spiritual Progress
We are witnessing a quiet revolution in research on human flourishing, the study of how people develop character and grow personally. Developments in the field were assessed at the “Spiritual Progress and Human Flourishing” conference held recently at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. As part of the events marking the centenary of the birth of Sir John, and sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (JTF), the conference brought together leading researchers in fields as diverse as forgiveness and cosmology, gratitude and unlimited love.
Research on forgiveness and gratitude, for example, is currently burgeoning. By some measures, it has increased over tenfold in the last 15 years. Forgiveness and gratitude are now also frequently talked about in the media and public sphere as key spiritual virtues for human flourishing.
“The JTF funding initiative for research on forgiveness changed the scientific landscape by equipping scientists to study and document the psychological, physical, and relational dimensions of forgiveness,” reported Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet, professor of psychology at Hope College, Michigan. An unprecedented dialogue between theologians, philosophers, psychologists, clergy, and counselors has begun, and perceptions of forgiveness are changing. Forgiveness is being taken as a sign of strength, not weakness, and it is no longer seen primarily as a virtue for religious people.
Progress in the science of gratitude has accelerated in the past decade, too. Robert Emmons, professor of psychology at University of California, Davis, confirmed that the evidence is building to show that a practice of gratitude—a universal religious emotion—has psychological benefits, sustains physical well–being, and feeds human relationships. There is particularly exciting work to be done on gratitude and social morality, as it fosters civic involvement and philanthropy. “The research has rescued the timeless virtue of gratitude from obsolescence and has verified ancient scriptural teachings on this fundamental source of human strength,” Emmons added, noting that Sir John wrote, “Thanksgiving opens the door to spiritual growth.”
Work on happiness and spirituality is important, too, continued David Myers, professor of psychology, also at Hope College. A Gallup survey of adult Americans showed that over 60% of individuals with a high spiritual commitment described themselves as very happy, compared with only about a quarter of those with low spiritual commitment.
This result chimes with the research of Matthew Lee, associate professor of sociology, University of Akron, Ohio. His field of study is the experience of unlimited love, which is defined as love of an enduring, unconditional, and exceptionless quality. Research carried out by the Flame of Love Project, funded by JTF and involving 1,200 randomly selected Americans, shows that 83% “feel God’s love increasing their compassion for others.” But does religious commitment cause happiness, or are religious people happier anyway? And what is the nature of the links between church-going and prosocial behavior? There is more work to be done to understand the details.
The research, though, is gradually being undertaken. “Spirituality and health has grown into a new field of study,” said Harold G. Koenig, director of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University. George E. Vaillant, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, agreed, pointing out that psychiatric textbooks have thousands of lines on fear and depression, but little or nothing on the spiritual values of joy or love. The research also raises very practical questions, such as how religious involvement impacts the effectiveness of medical treatment and whether addressing people’s spiritual needs reduces healthcare costs.
A different perspective on contemporary spiritual progress comes from the physical sciences. “Cosmology has led us to a new humility and a new spiritual experience,” reported Nidhal Guessoum, professor of physics at the American University of Sharjah, UAE. “The vastness of the universe, its diversity and richness, its elegance and precision provokes awe from scientists and laymen alike.”
Guessoum calls it “cosmic spirituality,” and it leads immediately to the Big Questions, such as the significance of consciousness amidst the hugeness of space and the links between cosmic structure and the existence of life. Searching for answers draws on the insights of the great religious traditions, as well as the discoveries of science. Indeed, cosmic spirituality can bridge the divide between believers and non-theists because it nurtures respect for the universe we share.
“Sir John always hoped that eventually, with the help of science, spiritual perspectives might again become engaging to open-minded people who have otherwise given up on perennial wisdom for lack of empirical support,” said Stephen G. Post, moderator of the conference and president of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love. “He would be asking whether any of the basic research on spirituality and health, forgiveness, gratitude, or unlimited love points to techniques that transform life as effectively as the 12 steps. We see seeds of progress, but have a long way to go.”
Higgs Discovery and the Big Questions
The discovery at the Large Hadron Collider of a particle consistent with the Higgs boson naturally raises some of the Big Questions. What is the meaning of the fine tuning that is implicit in the standard model of which the Higgs is a crucial part? What is the significance of consciousness in the quantum processes of the physical world?
It was timely, then, that quantum physics and belief in God was discussed at Big Questions Online, the website devoted to exploring the Big Questions, published by the John Templeton Foundation. Stephen M. Barr, professor of physics at the University of Delaware, explained that quantum physics does not provide an argument for the existence of God. But it does undermine the materialism upon which many atheists justify their opposition to belief in God.
Materialism treats the universe as a closed system, which quantum physics undermines. It introduces an openness into the nature of things, and it is possible to interpret this openness as needing non-material minds in the processes of the cosmos.
In a rich online discussion of the question, “Does Quantum Physics Make it Easier to Believe in God?,” other interpretations of quantum physics were raised that do not suggest a need for minds. These include the many worlds interpretation and the possibility of so-called hidden variables. Barr replied that hidden variables are considered unlikely by the vast majority of physicists and the many worlds interpretation may itself be but an encoding of the role of minds.
Big Questions Online features a new essay every Tuesday. BQO can also be followed on Facebook and Twitter.
Research on Chaplaincy in Palliative Care
Despite playing a central role in caring for suffering patients, professional health care chaplains remain marginalized within mainstream medical practice. Although there is much anecdotal and some empirical evidence that chaplains can play a meaningful part in overall healing, the body of scientific research on the subject is insufficient.
As part of its work to meet this need, HealthCare Chaplaincy has announced six recipients of research grants to identify and explore hypotheses about chaplains’ contributions to palliative care. The organization, which supports research, education, and the practice of palliative care, selected the proposals from over 70 submissions that met the highest standards of scientific inquiry. The grants are funded by the John Templeton Foundation.
Linda Emanuel and The Rev. George Handzo, co-principal investigators, have identified projects that they believe will advance the field of spiritual care in palliative medicine. They hope the work undertaken by the recipients of the grants will benefit all who work in this growing area.
Please note that the Templeton Report will not be published during the month of August.
