Organization: The Meros Center
Background/Context:
The concept of grace is embedded in a myriad of spiritual, philosophical, and theological discussions for millennia, but only recently come to the attention of psychologists and sociologists. Although largely underexplored and underdefined in contemporary scholarly literature, grace has increasingly been recognized for its potential impact on public health. Researchers have often addressed grace’s definitions and conceptualizations from a philosophical or theoretical perspective, separately from studies involving qualitative or quantitative methodological explorations. Additionally, grace has been understood and defined within the context of particular religious traditions, with nuanced perspectives situated between particular faiths. However, grace is understood as a universal concept and identified as a powerful force worthy of further inquiry.
2 Responses
Project Update: The team developed an initial theoretical framework and has received feedback from the Meros Scholar community. Currently a manuscript is underway to publish the framework in a peer-reviewed journal. Their goal is to have it submitted and accepted by the end of 2024.
June 2026 Update: We are delighted to share that this manuscript was published in the Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health this month! Below is the official reference, and we are happy to share more details if you are interested in this topic. Our goal is to begin using this new theoretical model about how people give grace to one another to inform future research and practice efforts in communities around the world.
Kasten, K., Hatzfeld, J., & Paltzer, J. (2026). A conceptual model of relational grace to guide public health research, practice, and policy. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2026.2693474