Abstract
The aim of the research presented in the article was to provide a method for measuring the three theological, supernatural virtues: faith, love and hope, defined in the context of biblical tradition and Christian theology, and an attempt to find the variables of religiosity and personality related to the practice of these virtues. For this purpose, the author of the article used the existing Scale of Eschatological Hope and constructed two short methods for measuring the virtues of faith and love: the Faith Virtue Scale and the Virtue of Charity Scale.
The study included 259 adults. With the help of cluster analysis, two groups of people were distinguished; one confirming the practice (attitude) of the virtues of faith, love and hope, and the other group manifesting a deficit (lack) of attitudes of faith, love and hope in their relationship with God.
The degree of association between attitudes of faith, love and hope and variables of religiosity and personality were examined using correlation methods, comparison of the significance of differences between means and regression analysis. The results indicate very significant positive associations between individual theological virtues and the frequency and importance of religious practices in the family (FAITHS), dimensions of Christian character (SCCA), and negative associations with a critical attitude to religion (religious crisis, rejection of Christianity, deconversion). Also, significant negative associations of the virtues of faith, love and hope were found with the five vices and virtues (VAVS): greed vs generosity, lust vs chastity, gluttony vs temperance, anger vs patience, laziness vs diligence. Few and weak relationships have been found between theological virtues and the psychological functions of FPTETS (extroversion – introversion, thinking – feeling) and self-image. The compared groups also differ in age, level of education and religious self-declaration.
The presented findings require further research, including the refinement of research methods covering theological virtues, taking into account the situational context of their practice, and the extension of variables explaining functioning. Attention is also paid to pastoral applications in Christian education and preaching.
References
- Bilczewski J., Charakter: list pasterski arcybiskupa Józefa Bilczewskiego do uczniów szkół średnich i seminaryów nauczycielskich, cz. 2, Charakter chrześcijański, Poznań-Warszawa 1920. [Google Scholar]
- Błażejewska T., Miłość jako postawa, „Zdrowie Psychiczne”, 1953, nr 5 (24), s. 34-39. [Google Scholar]
- Brud P. P., Cieciuch J., Polish adaptation of the Vices and Virtues Scales (VAVS), “Mental Health, Religion & Culture”, 2020, nr 6 (23), s. 494-506. [Google Scholar]
- Boyd C. A., Timpe K., The theological virtues: be good, by God!, w: The virtues: a very short introduction, red. C. A. Boyd, K. Timpe, Oxford 2021, s. 71-88. [Google Scholar]
- Chaim W., Autoportret charakteru chrześcijanina a jego religijność i osobowość, „Resovia Sacra”, 2021 (28), s. 9-43. [Google Scholar]
- Chaim W., Wpływ praktyk religijnych w rodzinie na religijność i osobowość w okresie wschodzącej dorosłości, „Resovia Sacra”, 2022 (29), s. 49-84. [Google Scholar]
- Chaim W., The Polish adaptation of the Francis Psychological Type and Emotional Temperament Scales (FPTETS): an overview of recent research, “Mental Health, Religion & Culture”, 2022, nr 22 (69), s. 1-11. [Google Scholar]
- Francis L. J., Faith and psychology. Personality, religion and the individual, London 2005. [Google Scholar]
- Johann R., Wiara, nadzieja, miłość, Warszawa 1971. [Google Scholar]
- Kim S., Development and validation of a Scale for Christian Character Assessment of University Students, “Religions”, 2017, nr 5 (8), s. 1-10. [Google Scholar]
- Lambert N. M., Dollahite D.C., Development of the Faith Activities in the Home Scale (FAITHS), ”Journal of Family Issues”, 2010 (31), s. 1442-1464. [Google Scholar]
- Małkiewicz M.M., Pojęcie nadziei w różnych koncepcjach psychologicznych, „Kwartalnik Naukowy Fides Et Ratio”, 2019, nr 4 (40), s. 95-111. [Google Scholar]
- Mattison III W. C., Can Christians possess the acquired cardinal virtues?, “Theological Studies”, 2011 (72), s. 558-585. [Google Scholar]
- Miller-Perrin C., Krumrei Mancus E., Faith from a positive psychology perspective, Berlin/Heidelberg 2015. [Google Scholar]
- Stronge, S., Bulbulia J., Davis D. E., Sibley C.G., Religion and the development of character: personality changes before and after religious conversion and deconversion, “Social Psychological and Personality Science”, 2021, nr 5 (12), s. 801-811. [Google Scholar]
- Titus C. S., Scrofani P., The art of love: a Roman Catholic psychology of love, “Journal of Psychology and Christianity”, 2012, nr 2 (31), s. 118-129. [Google Scholar]
- Tjeltveit A. C., Psychology returns to love … of God and neighbor-as-self: introduction to the special issue, “Journal of Psychology and Theology”, 2006, nr 1 (34) s. 3-7. [Google Scholar]
- Uchnast Z, Osobowa postawa wiary: model jakościowej analizy, „Roczniki Filozoficzne”, 1999, nr 2, s. 33-53. [Google Scholar]
- Vost K., Siedem grzechów głównych. Pokonywanie wad i słabości ze św. Tomaszem z Akwinu. Poznań 2020. [Google Scholar]
- Witvliet C. V., Hall M. E., Exline J., Wang D. C., Root Luna, L M., Van Tongeren, D. R., Myers, D. G., Abernethy, A. D., Vitvliet, J. D., The Eschatological Hope Scale: Construct development and measurement of theistic eschatological hope, “Journal of Psychology and Christianity”, 2022, nr 1 (41), s. 16-35. [Google Scholar]
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
