The Practical Neuroscience of Forgiveness: Insights for Pastoral and Spiritual Care

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The Practical Neuroscience of Forgiveness
Insights for Pastoral and Spiritual Care

• Dr. Kirk A. Bingaman, PhD
• Assoc. Professor of Pastoral Care/Counseling
• Graduate School of Religion Religious Ed.
• Fordham University

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Resculpting the Spiritual Brain

• In the summer of 1999, a study was conducted of a
  group of nuns who had been practicing the
  Centering Prayer for a minimum of fifteen years.
  This was the first brain-scan study of Christian
  contemplative practitioners, and we discovered
  that the neurological changes were significant
  and very different from how the human brain
  normally functionsfrontal lobe activity
  increases, limbic activity decreases, and the
  combination generates a peaceful state of
  serenity and calm.
• Andrew Newberg, University of Pennsylvania

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The Discovery of Neuroplasticty

• We can alter not only the functioning but also
  the structure of the neural networks in our
  brainsas we forgive others, God, and ourselves,
  we make a minute but long-term, possibly
  permanent, change in our brains.
• Bruce McEwen, The End of Stress as We Know It

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Cultivating a Mindful Awareness

• . Being mindfully aware by attending to our
  here-and-now experiences creates scientifically
  recognized enhancements in our physiology, our
  mental functions, our interpersonal relations,
  and in our spiritual life.
• Daniel Siegel, The Mindful Brain

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A Built-In Negativity Bias

• Fear and pain blaze a trail through the brain and
  straight to the physiological systems that
  coordinate our response. More neural pathways go
  from the fear and emotional centers to the
  higher up regions, like the cortex, than come
  back down from the lofty heights into the alert
  center (amygdala). Messages of love, courage,
  hope and forgiveness can also certainly influence
  the body, only not with the same galvanic effect.
  
• Bruce McEwen, The End of Stress as We Know It

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Creating the Space of Non-Judging Experience

• Without judgments, what are we? Who are we? The
  benefit of jettisoning judgments and infusing
  experience with the freedom of forgiveness is
  that life becomes much more rewarding,
  meaningful, and physiologically and spiritually
  healthy.
• Daniel Siegel, The Mindful Brain

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The Centrality of Contemplative Spiritual
Practice

• The evidence from neuroscience reveals that if we
  want to experience life in all its fullness, if
  we want to live into the abundance of joy and
  peace and love and forgiveness, for ourselves and
  for those in our care, we will need to make
  contemplative prayer and meditation central to
  the practice of pastoral ministry and spiritual
  care.

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Forgiveness (CBS Sunday Morning April 17, 2009)

• Are people more apt to seek revenge or offer
  forgiveness when they've been wronged? Sunday
  Morning's Martha Teichner examines our capacity
  to forgive.
• http//www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id4952646n