ABSTRACT
There are excellent philosophical and theological grounds for exploration of connections between moral exemplars and the role of empathy in moral cognition. A substantial portion of the basis for this perceived connection is the function of narrative in learning what it means to be a virtuous person. In this chapter, I explore connections between new developments in cognitive science and the role of narrative in development of religiously informed morality. Given the apparent importance of the “embodied simulation” 1 to social cognition, I suggest that drama, as a particular type of aesthetic engagement, is a promising framework for theological reflection on morality. Tremendous advances have been made in cognitive science, but the field is still in its infancy. Some may think, therefore, that theological reflection on this information is premature. Even so, the questions raised for the meaning of religious moralities have an urgency that stimulates contemplation.
