Title

Guilt and the Science of Emotion: How Does Prayer Fit?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2013

Abstract

This article engages sources regarding evolutionary development of guilt (Richard Joyce's The Evolution of Morality, Jesse Prinz's Gut Reactions, and others) and how they can be used to dialogue with material on the alleviation of guilt in the Christian tradition using examples in the work of Anselm of Canterbury and John Chrysostom. This raises a few key questions. If guilt is an evolutionary trait created to build reputation and relationship, how does this mesh with some theological approaches to solutions for guilt? To be more precise, guilt possibly evolved to create a motivation for beneficial communal actions, and necessitates belief in the authority of the rules that one breaks to induce it. That said, does religion play a role in awareness of one's guilt, while also providing a solution to that guilt? The possibilities are explored in this article as they relate to issues of repentance, atonement, and prayer.

Publication Title

Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science

Volume

48

Issue

4

First Page

890

Last Page

907

DOI of Published Version

10.1111/zygo.12048

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

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