| Spiritual Evolution by Dr George E. Vaillant |
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| Written by Rita Thompson | ||||||
| Tuesday, 21 October 2008 | ||||||
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Review of “Spiritual Evolution” by George E. Vaillant, M.D A Scientific Defense of Faith By Rita M. Thompson This is a book that deepens the understanding of the Positive Emotions, Faith and Spirituality and their evolutionary development. Faith used here “involves basic trust that the world has meaning and that loving kindness exists. The absence of faith is nihilism, which is love of no one, nor truth, beauty, hope or joy, with no meaning in life. Faith is what you do and is manifested three different ways; following a faith tradition, expressing a trusting commitment to compassionate behavior and community building, and through positive emotion, personal sense of inner illumination, awe, and a longing for the sacred. It is the foundation of trust in the universe (pages 67-68). With the Peace Prayer of St. Frances, Dr. Vaillant begins separation of Spirituality into a broad spectrum of positive emotions: compassion, forgiveness, love, hope, joy, faith/trust, awe and gratitude arising from unselfish parental love. They are a common denominator for all major faiths and of all human being. He presents scientific evidence for the benefits of Positive Emotions (future time, creative) and Negative Emotions (present survival time). The three kinds of evolution he traces their development through are: selection of genes over millennia, cultural evolution of the value of human life and spirituality. He ends stating simply “spirituality is love for all people and religions.” I recommend reading this book. It can answer questions for many to move forward in their lives.
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