Belonging to a Religious Community: Does It Shape the Associations of Divine Forgiveness with Psychological and Social Outcomes?

Forgiveness is a deeply transformative experience, encompassing not only human relationships but also the spiritual and transcendent dimensions of life. The ability and willingness to overcome destructive emotions such as anger, guilt, or hatred, which may arise as a consequence of a transgression, and to transform them into constructive emotional and behavioral responses, represent a critical psychological marker of reconciliation. Reconciliation is, together with forgiveness, one of the central moral imperatives of Christianity. Given that a vast majority of the world’s population adheres to some form of religious faith, research on forgiveness could be enriched by exploring how belonging to a religious community is related to individual and social adjustment. Furthermore, after several studies on self-forgiveness, it is necessary to embrace the study of the Divine Forgiveness (DF), which refers to the subjective experience of being absolved by God for ones’ personal transgressions or sins. A growing literature suggests that a fuller understanding of the psychology of forgiveness requires focusing on DF and its role in individuals’ and communities’ everyday lives. Indeed, DF can shape personal and group dynamics, fostering reconciliation and collective forgiveness. Based on the above, this study, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, aimed at investigating whether belonging (or non-belonging) to a religious community is associated with believers’ perception of DF and how it is linked with key variables of individual and social adjustment, such as wellbeing, prosocialness and gratitude. Data were collected from 756 Italian Christian believers aged above 18. Participants completed an online self-report questionnaire including a newly developed and validated scale of DF as well as measures of individual and social adjustment. Data analysis is still in progress and results will be discussed considering their potential to significantly contribute to the psychology of religion.