Research on Altruism and Love is a compendium of annotated bibliographies reviewing literature and research studies on the nature of love. An essay introduces each of the annotated bibliographies.

A variety of literature either directly related to science-and-love issues or supporting literature for those issues is covered in the Religious Love Interfaces with Science section. This annotated bibliography is unique in that it approaches the field from a decidedly religious perspective. It includes classical expositions of love that continue to influence contemporary scholars, including Platos' work on eros, the work and words of Jesus, Aristotle, Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, Kierkegaard, and Ghandi, among others. The contemporary discussion includes Anders Nygren's theological arguments in his classic, Agape and Eros; Pitirim Sorokin; and others. An issue that often emerges in this literature is the question of the nature and definition of love.

A second annotated bibliography features current empirical research in the field of Personality and Altruism, with a focus on social psychology. Among the topics covered are the altruistic personality, altruistic behavior, empathy, helping behavior, social responsibility, and volunteerism. Methodologies are diverse, and studies include experiments, local and national surveys, naturalistic observation, and combinations of these.

The Evolutionary Biology annotated bibliography covers the most significant works on altruism and love in the field of biology and evolutionary psychology.

The fourth and final annotated bibliography in this volume is entitled Sociology of Faith-Based Volunteerism. Here the focus is on literature on the interface of helping behavior and religious organizations, as well as major pieces on voluntary associations.

Byron R. Johnson is Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences and Director of the Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR) as well as director of the Program on Prosocial Behavior, both at Baylor University. Before joining the faculty at Baylor University, Johnson directed research centers at Vanderbilt University and the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Johnson has recently completed a series of empirical studies on the role of religion in prosocial youth behavior and is a member of the Coordinating Council for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. He is a leading authority on the scientific study of religion, the efficacy of faith-based organizations, and criminal justice. His recent publications have examined the impact of faith-based programs on recidivism reduction and prisoner reentry. Johnson and ISR colleagues (Rodney Stark, Philip Jenkins, and Jeff Levin) are partnering with the Gallup Organization on studies addressing religion and spirituality in the world.

Michael E. McCullough, PhD, is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Miami.

Stephen G. Post is professor of preventive medicine, and director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University of the State University of New York. He is recognized internationally for his work on the unselfish compassionate love at the interface of science, ethics, religious thought, and behavioral medicine. In addition, he is a recognized expert on the spiritual and ethical aspects of caring for persons with dementia. Post is the founding president of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, Altruism, Compassion, Service, which was founded in 2001 (www.unlimitedloveinstitute.com). The Institute facilitates research, writing, conferences, and courses at the interface of science, spirituality, health, and love for humanity.

Post has published over 130 articles in peer-reviewed journals such as Science, The International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, The Journal of Religion, The American Journal of Psychiatry, The Journal of the American Medical Association, and The Lancet. He has written seven scholarly books on love, and is also the editor of eight other books, most recently including Altruism & Health: Perspectives from Empirical Research, and Altruism and Altruistic Love: Science, Philosophy and Religion in Dialogue, both published by Oxford University Press. He is also editor-in-chief of the definitive, five-volume Encyclopedia of Bioethics. His most recent book, published with Broadway Books, is Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Science That Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Happier, Healthier Life (with co-author Jill Neimark).

Jeffrey P. Schloss is professor and chair of biology at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He has taught at the University of Michigan, Wheaton College, Jaguar Creek Tropical Research Center, and was formerly academic dean and head of Biological Programs for the Christian Environmental Association and research consultant in Evolutionary Biology for the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love. He obtained his PhD in Ecology/Evolutionary Biology from Washington University and undergraduate training in biology and philosophy from Wheaton College. Awards include being elected a Danforth Fellow, a AAAS Mass Media Science Fellow, a charter member of the International Society for Science and Religion, a member of the Evangelical Academy of Science & Ethics, and his book, Evolution and Ethics, edited with Philip Clayton, was chosen as a 2005 Templeton Science & Religion Book of Distinction.

Professor Schloss’s twofold research interests involve the ecophysiology of poikilohydric regulation, and evolutionary understandings of religion, altruistic morality, and human purpose. He has served on the editorial and advisory boards of numerous journals and organizations relating science and religion, including Zygon, the Journal of Theology and Science, Science & Christian Belief, Science & Theology News, and Science & Spirit.