Experiencing Grace: A Review of the Empirical Literature

Hodge, Adam S.; Hook, Joshua N.; Davis, Don E.; Tongeren, Daryl R. Van; Bufford, Rodger K; Bassett, Rodney L.; McMinn, Mark R.

doi:10.1080/17439760.2020.1858943

Cited by 16 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Several qualitative studies have also been reported (e.g., Francis et al, 2018), most of them unpublished. Overall, Hodge et al (2020) conclude that current studies of grace lack the rigor found in most areas of psychological inquiry. They suggest, "as definitions and conceptualizations of a psychological understanding of grace continue to improve : : : , qualitative research efforts exploring experiences and beliefs about grace could help improve the measurement of grace" (p. 29).…”

mentioning

confidence: 75%

The lived religion of grace: Exploring diverse Christian narratives.

Hall¹,

McMinn²

2023

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

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The topic of grace has gained recent attention in positive psychology research, though little empirical work has been done to explore how religious individuals understand and experience grace. Using grounded theory, this study involves a secondary analysis of qualitative findings from seven doctoral dissertations conducted with Christians of various denominations. Four characteristics of the interviews were noted, exploring how they varied in depth, individual differences, grace distinctions, and coherence. These were followed by a detailed analysis of the eight uncontroversial components of grace uncovered in the interviews: Expression of God's love, unmerited, God's initiative, gift, abundance, relational, acceptance, and incomprehensible. Finally, we addressed the controversial aspects of a Christian experience of grace pertaining to how participants understand the work of Jesus in relation to God's gift of grace. A general definition of grace, based on the lived religious experience of these Christian participants, is, "the unmerited expression of God's love, in which God offers the gift of relationship with Godself." We also suggest a more particular definition for those who link grace with sin, separation, and the atoning work of Jesus, "the unmerited expression of God's love, in which God offers the gift of relationship with God through the atoning work of Jesus, whose death on the cross allows for the forgiveness of sins which separated people from God.

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confidence: 75%

The lived religion of grace: Exploring diverse Christian narratives.

Hall¹,

McMinn²

2023

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

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“…As such, the diversity and complexity of the grace narratives found here suggest that future standardized measures of grace should be multidimensional in nature, thus controlling for diverse expressions and experience of grace. Current instruments have been heavily influenced by evangelical perspectives and lack the methodological rigor expected in other areas within the psychology of religion (Bassett & Roberts Wesleyan College Psychology Research Group, 2013; Beckenbach et al, 2010; Bufford et al, 2015, 2017; Hodge et al, in press). Due to the growing diversity within Christianity as well as the transformation of language in an emerging postmodern society, standardized measures need to assess for an array of beliefs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite its popularity in spiritual communities, grace has received minimal attention in the scientific field, including the science of positive psychology (Hodge et al, in press). In an attempt to change this, Emmons et al (2017) illuminated the existing research concerning grace and established an argument for why further research is paramount.…”

Section: A Nascent Psychological Science Of Gracementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Simultaneously, a number of scholars have attempted to assess grace quantitatively through items on existing scales (Arnett, 2017) and new scale development (Bassett & Roberts Wesleyan College Psychology Research Group, 2013; Beckenbach et al, 2010; Bufford et al, 2015, 2017, 2018; Dudley, 1995; Sisemore, 2016; Sisemore et al, 2011; Watson et al, 1985, 1987, 2011). After reviewing these various quantitative measurement efforts, Hodge et al (in press) conclude that “measurement of grace appears to lack rigorous methodologies found in more established fields of psychology” (p. 14). The most hopeful effort to date is found in Bufford et al’s (2015) work to combine three pre-existing measures of grace into a single, stronger unified scale with various subscales.…”

Section: Assessing Gracementioning

confidence: 99%

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Experiences of Divine Grace Among Christian Friends

Webster¹,

McMinn

Dunlop³

et al. 2021

Journal of Psychology and Theology

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Although topics of prayer, forgiveness, and gratitude have received attention in the psychology of religion, there is sparse literature regarding the concept of grace. Thirty interviews were conducted with Friends (Quakers) in the Pacific Northwest, using a semi-structured interview developed for a larger study of how Christians from various denominations experience grace. Four organizing themes were derived from the interview questions and then grounded theory was used to uncover associated subthemes within each organizing theme. Participants emphasized the loving nature of God and how grace is a transforming relational experience with God that helps people move toward wholeness and completeness. Although participants sometimes linked grace with questions of eternal destiny, it was also associated with being fully accepted and loved by God in the present moment. Many expressed concerns about conservative Christian perspectives of grace that seem to overly focus on being saved from hell, instead preferring views of grace that are inclusive and available to all. Ongoing disciplines of grace included being in nature, community relationships, creative expressions, prayer, quiet, and reading sacred texts. These findings are consistent with historical and contemporary distinctives of Friends. Implications for future research are considered.

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“…In a recent narrative review surveying the extant empirical literature on grace (k = 61), Hodge, Hook, Davis, Van Tongeren, et al (2020)…”

Section: Christian Understanding Of Well-being Health and Virtuementioning

confidence: 99%

Handbook of Positive Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality

Davis¹,

Worthington²,

Schnitker³

2022

Preprint

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This handbook aims to bridge the gap between the fields of positive psychology and the psychology of religion and spirituality. It is the authoritative guide to the intersections among religion, spirituality, and positive psychology and includes the following sections: (1) historical and theoretical considerations, (2) methodological considerations, (3) cultural considerations, (4) developmental considerations, (5) empirical research on happiness and well-being in relation to religion and spirituality, (6) empirical research on character strengths and virtues in relation to religion and spirituality, (7) clinical and applied considerations, and (8) field unification and advancement. Leading positive psychologists and psychologists of religion/spirituality have coauthored the chapters, drawing on expertise from their respective fields. The handbook is useful for social and clinical scientists, practitioners in helping professions, practitioners in religious and spiritual fields, and students of psychology and religion/spirituality.

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Experiencing Grace: A Review of the Empirical Literature

Cited by 16 publications

References 25 publications

The lived religion of grace: Exploring diverse Christian narratives.

The lived religion of grace: Exploring diverse Christian narratives.

Experiences of Divine Grace Among Christian Friends

Handbook of Positive Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality

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