Forgiveness Science and Innovation

Forgiveness is an age-old practice, and its benefits are more than anecdotal. When people forgive, positive emotions—empathy, love, compassion—replace negative ones, transforming people’s lives. Over the past twenty years, scientific research on forgiveness has given us simple interventions that improve physical health, mental wellbeing, and personal relationships. 

Templeton World Charity Foundation, along with the John Templeton Foundation, has funded the study of forgiveness for more than a decade. As the field advances, a growing body of evidence supports the healing power of forgiveness. Fifty studies have found that forgiveness significantly improves mental health outcomes such as depression, anger, hostility, and stress. Reports also show decreased blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol. These studies looked at a range of contexts: individual and group settings, different types and lengths of treatment, and countries as diverse as the United States, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Malaysia, and Switzerland.

Using rigorous science, we aim to build an ecosystem of data-driven innovations and tools that make forgiveness accessible to anyone. Learn more about the science of forgiveness.