Robert Emmons & Marc Afshar on Gratitude

This lecture was delivered by Dr. Robert Emmons and Rev. Marc Afshar on November 1, 2017 at Yale Divinity School as part of the Yale Youth Ministry Institute's Joy & Adolescent Faith and Flourishing Series.

“God, Grace, Gifts and Gratitude: Foundations for Joy”
Gratitude comes from the recognition that gifts are not rights, privileges, or accidental outcomes but emerge when the mind is turned toward contemplation of God's incomprehensible goodness. Youth ministry contexts can actualize gratitude’s role as a social glue that binds people together, boosting joy in settings where flourishing often remains a potentiality rather than a reality.

Dr. Emmons is the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude. He is a professor of psychology at UC Davis, and the founding editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology. He is the author of several books including, Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. Rev. Afshar is a college minister that serves at the University of the Pacific and Delta College in Stockton, CA.

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