The making and unmaking of prejudice: an interchange between psychology and religion
Whether compassion for all beings in Buddhism, or "love of enemy" in Christianity, unconditional love is one of the principal concerns of all world religions. The profound wisdom of various religious traditions has inspired many to embrace the ideal of universal compassion. One example of...
| Published in: | The journal of religion & society |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Creighton University
2009
|
| In: |
The journal of religion & society
|
| Further subjects: | B
Meditation; Buddhism
B Social Ethics B Prejudices |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | Whether compassion for all beings in Buddhism, or "love of enemy" in Christianity, unconditional love is one of the principal concerns of all world religions. The profound wisdom of various religious traditions has inspired many to embrace the ideal of universal compassion. One example of such an uncompromising love is Martin Luther King, Jr., who in spite of the overwhelming hostility of his white opponents, continued to adhere to the principle of unconditional love. How do contemporary, average Christians compare? Would average believers show compassion to strangers in need by emulating the example of a Good Samaritan, or would they bypass the needy? Questions like these have been posed and processed by many psychologists for over fifty years. In what follows, I will present the results of a number of studies that suggest the complex nature of religious influences. Research shows that people who are more religious are not necessarily more loving or tolerant than those who are less religious. At the same time, research on the psychology of religion provides insight into which characteristics of religious people are associated with more tolerant behavior. Furthermore, there is growing scientific evidence that mindfulness meditation, which originated in the Buddhist religious tradition, might encourage an open-minded awareness and compassion for others. I will argue that contemplative traditions, such as mindfulness meditation in Buddhism, can become a valuable spiritual resource in fostering the ideal of unconditional love. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1522-5658 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The journal of religion & society
|
| Persistent identifiers: | HDL: 10504/64441 |