Date

3-22-2024

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

William M. McMillan

Keywords

altruism, spiritual altruism, Christianity, Christian Leader, religion, psychology, spirituality

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Altruism is fundamentally a part of Christianity, but this phenomenon has never been researched from the perspective of Christian leaders. More than simple kindness or generosity, altruism can be defined as actions and behaviors which place a person’s own interests subordinate to another’s. This qualitative study interviews 31 Christian leaders to establish an understanding of what altruism is in the context of Christian faith. The study found that Christian leaders’ experiences with altruism redefines what was previously known about the phenomenon and its role in our lives. Examining the Christian rationale of altruism provides a richer conception of altruism and its role in personal belief systems. Christian leaders’ insights about how altruism functions in pursuit of a Christ-like lifestyle provides a rarely scene viewpoint regarding the sacrifices and struggles of giving to others. The study found that altruism in Christian faith is about surrender and love, but most importantly, it is about meeting the needs of others and spiritual growth. Many of the life experiences of Christian leaders can be expressed through a new concept, “spiritual altruism,” which categorizes spiritual sacrifices for others and helps define the broader altruism phenomenon. The study suggests that the unique understandings of Christian leaders expands existing altruistic themes (e.g., kinship, reciprocity, personality, morality, and love), and that altruism should no longer be viewed as a zero-sum or egoism-altruism construct, but as a mutually beneficial activity that embraces the best in all of us and enriches our personal lives and communities.

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