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

1. 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

2. 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 functions…frontal lobe activity increases, limbic activity decreases, and the combination generates a peaceful state of serenity and calm. Andrew Newberg, University of Pennsylvania

3. The Discovery of Neuroplasticty We can alter not only the functioning but also the structure of the neural networks in our brains…as 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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/?id=4952646n