While exhortations to gratitude are present throughout the Bible, contemporary theological scholarship on gratitude has been limited, largely following the lead of secular research. To engage in deeper theological reflection on gratitude, I begin by proposing a working definition of gratitude in the Christian context. An overview of existing gratitude research undertaken in the fields of philosophy and the social sciences, reflections on three of the seven “heavenly virtues,” and insights from existing theologies of grace and the cross provide examples of how existing scholarship forms a solid basis for the creation of a theology of gratitude. Finally, the role that concerns of justice must play in any theology of gratitude is examined—for what should we give thanks? A Christian theology of gratitude invites us to critical ethical reflection on what is truly good in the eyes of God, and calls us to generous response.
AndemicaelAwet Iassu. “Grace, Equity, Participation: The Economy of God in 2 Corinthians 8:8-15.” Anglican Theological Review 98, no. 4 (Fall 2016): 621–38.
2.
BergerPinhasRachelBachner-MelmanLilacLev-Ari. “Thankful for What? The Efficacy of Interventions Targeting Interpersonal versus Noninterpersonal Gratitude.” Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement 51, no. 1 (2019): 27–36.
3.
The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church: Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David According to the Use of the Episcopal Church. New York: Church Hymnal Corp., 2016.
4.
BrethertonLuke. “Soteriology, Debt, and Faithful Witness: Four Theses for a Political Theology of Economic Democracy.”Anglican Theological Review 98, no. 1 (2016): 71–89.
5.
BuckleyWilliam F.Jr.Gratitude: Reflections on What We Owe to Our Country. New York: Random House, 1990.
6.
CarrDavid. “Is Gratitude a Moral Virtue?”Philosophical Studies 172, no. 6 (2015): 1475–84.
7.
CarrDavid. “From Gratitude to Lamentation: On the Moral and Psychological Economy of Gift, Gain and Loss.” Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour 46, no. 1 (2016): 41–59.
8.
CeaserJames W. “No Thanks to Gratitude.” Policy Review, no. 170 (December2011): 59.
9.
ChapmanMark D. “Why Do We Still Recite the Nicene Creed at the Eucharist?” Anglican Theological Review 87, no. 2 (Spring 2005): 207–23.
10.
CotnerJune. Gratitude Prayers: Prayers, Poems, and Prose for Everyday Thankfulness. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel, 2013.
11.
DanaherWilliam. “Towards a Paschal Theology of Restorative Justice.”Anglican Theological Review 89, no. 3 (Summer 2007): 359–73.
12.
DanielLillian.When “Spiritual but Not Religious” Is Not Enough: Seeing God in Surprising Places, Even the Church. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2013.
13.
DysonRobert, ed. Augustine: The City of God against the Pagans. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.
14.
EngelsJeremy.The Art of Gratitude. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2018.
15.
Episcopal Church. The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church: Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David According to the Use of the Episcopal Church. New York: Church Hymnal Corp., 2016.
16.
FarleyEdward.Good and Evil: Interpreting a Human Condition. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1991.
17.
GouldJames. “Earning, Deserving, and the Catechism’s Understanding of Grace.” Anglican Theological Review 91, no. 3 (Summer 2009): 373–94.
18.
JacksonLiz. “Why Should I Be Grateful? The Morality of Gratitude in Contexts Marked by Injustice.” Journal of Moral Education 45, no. 3 (2016): 276–90.
KeshgegianFlora A. “The Scandal of the Cross: Revisiting Anselm and His Feminist Critics.” Anglican Theological Review 82, no. 3 (Summer 2000): 475.
21.
KirkpatrickMelanie. “Giving Thanks through the Centuries.” USA Today Magazine 146, no. 2870 (2017): 10.
22.
KrauseNealHaywardR. David. “Humility, Compassion, and Gratitude to God: Assessing the Relationships among Key Religious Virtues.” Psychology of Religion and Spirituality 7, no. 3 (2015): 192–204.
23.
LeithartPeter J.Gratitude: An Intellectual History. Waco, TX: Baylor University, 2014.
MorganBlaireLizGullifordDavidCarr. “Educating Gratitude: Some Conceptual and Moral Misgivings.” Journal of Moral Education 44, no. 1 (2015): 97–111.
26.
NgJomel W. X.EddieM. W.TongDael L. Y.SimSamantha W. Y.TeoXingqi LoyTimothyGiesbrecht. “Gratitude Facilitates Private Conformity: A Test of the Social Alignment Hypothesis.” Emotion 17, no. 2 (2017): 379–87.
27.
NiebuhrReinhold.The Nature and Destiny of Man: A Christian Interpretation. New York: Scribner, 1964.
28.
RaiserKonrad. “The Way of Ecumenism: Gratitude and Commitment.” Ecumenical Review 70, no. 1 (2018): 35–48.
29.
RenaudMyriam. “A Call for a Theology of Theologies to Address Increasing Income Inequality in Mainline Protestant Congregations.” Anglican Theological Review 99, no. 1 (2017): 31–43.
30.
TannerKathryn. “Incarnation, Cross, and Sacrifice: A Feminist-Inspired Reappraisal.” Anglican Theological Review 86, no. 1 (2004): 35–56.
31.
TerryJustyn. “The Forgiveness of Sins and the Work of Christ: A Case for Substitutionary Atonement.” Anglican Theological Review 95, no. 1 (2013): 9–24.
32.
TsangJo-Ann. “The Effects of Helper Intention on Gratitude and Indebtedness.” Motivation & Emotion 30, no. 3 (2006): 198–204.
33.
WatkinsPhilipJasonScheerMelindaOvnicekRussellKolts. “The Debt of Gratitude: Dissociating Gratitude and Indebtedness.” Cognition & Emotion 20, no. 2 (2006): 217–41.
