Gratitude, Forgiveness and Religiosity- A Comparative Study

Abstract

India is home to diverse cultures and religious practices since time immemorial. India has been a secular state which preaches freedom of religious beliefs and keeps the cultural identity of the residents of the country intact. Psychologists and researchers who study religion want to understand what religion would mean psychologically. To study religion psychologically researchers usually rely on empirical and scientific approach. The present research is an attempt to understand that how gratitude and forgiveness affects religiosity which is a major way of leading a life in India. The present study was conducted to understand the effect of gratitude and forgiveness on religiosity with an in- depth attempt to study the differences on gratitude and forgiveness across religious groups (Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians). The sample included of 140 participants, 35 each of which belonged to Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity. A correlational analysis was run to understand the relationship of religiosity and gratitude, religiosity and forgiveness and gratitude and forgiveness. It was found that no significant correlation was depicted among the same.