Lean Into Grace

Mark R. McMinn

“Although Christian virtue ultimately leads to giving and generosity toward others, it begins with the Great Receiving. It begins with grace… It seems likely that grace will become increasingly important in positive psychology, which is the contemporary science of virtue. The Templeton Foundation recently funded Project Amazing Grace: Understanding the Nature of Divine Grace… Some of the leading positive psychologists who study gratitude have become interested in grace, so more good science will be coming our way on this topic.”

–Mark R. McMinn [The Science of Virtue: Why Positive Psychology Matters to the Church. (Chapter 6, Grace – Excerpt)] pp. 141-144.

Project Amazing Grace

Project Amazing Grace: Understanding the Nature of Divine Grace, Phase 1 Monthly Grant Report – February 2019. Project Leaders Peter Hill and Robert Emmons

What is grace? Why is the concept of grace so counterintuitive, contradictory, radical, and scandalous? Why is grace simultaneously irresistible yet resisted? What basic working assumptions about ourselves, the world, and the divine does it violate? Is grace at the center of a theological understanding of human beings? Our working hypothesis is that good psychological research, paired with careful theological reflection, will increase not only academic interest in this largely neglected topic, but also catalyze renewed interest in the powerful spiritual reality of grace in churches.

This planning grant will make possible a comprehensive background study of theological, philosophical, and psychological foundations for a science of grace. Work in Phase 1 will include recruiting members of the core research team, organizing and holding a strategic planning meeting, preparing a systematic review (white paper) of the concept of grace as it has been conceptualized in psychological sciences and in relevant theological and philosophical writings, and developing a large grant on the Science of Grace to be submitted at the conclusion of Phase 1.

Fundamentally, we are interested in the human experience of grace. While theologies have been developed around the various meanings, classifications and definitions of grace, empirical research is scant. In fact, one would be hard pressed to find a spiritual concept that has received less scientific attention than grace. This venture was embarked on to address this omission. We want to generate the highest level of empirical research into the nature of Divine grace that is informed by and integrated with theological inquiry. We want to address the big question, how and in what ways is grace fundamental to human existence and well-being? The overall goal of the project is to investigate how humanly experienced divine grace has the capacity to profoundly enhance and elevate human flourishing.

1.) John Templeton Foundation grant, Project Amazing Grace: Understanding the Nature of Divine Grace. (Grant # 57634). Mark R. McMinn, Ph.D. Core Research Team Member (Primary Investigators: Peter Hill, Robert Emmons). 2015-2017

2.) John Templeton Foundation grant, Project Amazing Grace Phase 2: Making Sense of Grace. Mark R. McMinn, Ph.D. Core Research Team Member (Primary Investigators: Peter Hill, Robert Emmons). 2019-2021.