Abstract
Religious faith and beliefs appear to play an important role in the lives of many individuals and are the topic of much research. The present study investigated the relationship between religious faith and forgiveness in a sample (n = 196) of college students. Students were asked to complete the Heartland Forgiveness Scale and the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire. Analyses of scores on both measures revealed a positive, significant correlation between these constructs, suggesting that there is a meaningful relationship between religious faith and the tendency to forgive. Implications and directions for further research are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Donahue, M. J., & Benson, P. L. (1995). Religion and wellbeing in adolescents. Journal of Social Issues, 51, 145-160.
D'Onofrio, B. M., Murrelle, L., Eaves, L. J., McCullough, M. E., Landis, J. L., & Maes, H. H. (1999). Adolescent religiousness and its influence on substance use: preliminary findings from the MidAtlantic School Age Twin Study. Twin Research, 2, 156-168.
Ellison, C. G. (1991). Religious involvement and subjective well-being. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 32, 80-99.
Enright, R. D., Gassin, E. A., & Wu, C. (1992). Forgiveness: A developmental view. Journal of Moral Education, 21, 99-114.
Freedman, S. R., & Enright, R. D. (1996). Forgiveness as an intervention with incest survivors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 983-992.
Gallup, G. (1995). The Gallup poll: Public opinion 1995. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources.
GrahamPole, J., Wass, H., Eyeberg, S. M., & Chu, L. (1989). Communicating with dying children and their siblings: A retrospective analysis. Death Studies, 13, 465-483.
Hughes, M. A., McCollum, J., Sheftel, D., & Sanchez, G. (1994). How parents cope with the experience of neonatal intensive care. Children's Health Care, 23, 1-14.
McCullough, M. E., & Worthingon, E. L., Jr. (1994). Encouraging clients to forgive people who have hurt them: Review, critique, and research prospectus. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 22, 3-20.
McCullough, M. E., Sandage, S. J., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (1997). To forgive is human. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity.
McCullough, M. E., Worthington, E. L., Jr., & Rachal, K. C. (1997). Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(2), 321-336.
Payne, I. R., Bergin, A. E., Bielema, K. A., & Jenkins, P. H. (1991). Review of religion and mental health: Prevention and the enhancement of psychosocial functioning. Prevention in Human Services, 9, 11-40.
Plante, T.G.,& Boccaccini, M. T. (1997a). Personality expectations and perceptions of Roman Catholic clergy members. Pastoral Psychology, 45, 301-315.
Plante, T. G., & Boccaccini, M. T. (1997b). The Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire. Pastoral Psychology, 45, 375-387.
Ross, C. E. (1990). Religion and psychological distress. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 29, 236-245.
Snyder, C. R., & Yamhure Thompson, L. (2000). The development and validation of the Heartland Forgiveness Scale. Unpublished manuscript. University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
Subkoviak, M. J., Enright, R. D., Wu, C., Gassin E. A., Freedman S., Olson, L. M., & Sarinopoulos, I. (1995). Measuring interpersonal forgiveness in late adolescence and middle adulthood. Journal of Adolescence, 18, 641-655.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Edwards, L.M., Lapp-Rincker, R.H., Magyar-Moe, J.L. et al. A Positive Relationship Between Religious Faith and Forgiveness: Faith in the Absence of Data?. Pastoral Psychology 50, 147–152 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012940402668
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012940402668