Theological Roots of Christian Gratitude

Kenneth Wilson, OBE is Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Jubilee Centre for Character and Values, School of Education, College of Social Sciences, the University of Birmingham,UK, Visiting Fellow of the University of Chichester, UK, and Senior Research Fellow of Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK.

'"This book, while rooted in a theological conception of gratitude, relates it helpfully to two other current discourses: the recent psychological/philosophical discourse on gratitude and the recent discourse on professionalism, professional practice, and professional virtues. This is a worthwhile enterprise, cleverly executed by the author. A thought-provoking and inspiring book." - Kristjan Kristjansson, Professor of Character Education and Virtue Ethics, Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham, UK 'Kenneth Wilson stresses the personally ameliorative character of gratitude: the emotion's ability to transform us by a happy self-transcendence and by binding giver and receiver in a benevolent relationship. He astutely finds the Christian theological framework, with its message of a gracious, compassionate, and forgiving Creator at the ground of our being, to be an extraordinarily fitting foundation for living a life of gratitude.' - Robert Roberts, Baylor University, USA

• 1. Introduction 2. The Theological Roots of Gratitude 3. A Christian Theological Understanding of the Self 4. Becoming Response-able: Learning to Become Responsible 5. Inheritance and Legacy: The Open Power of the Present 6. Compassion 7. The Gift of Service 8. Learning to Give Attention 9. Sharing: Building Together 10. The Beauty of Holiness 11. Picking up the Pieces 12. Conclusion: A Way Forward