Peacemaking and forgiveness are closely associated as we read in Ken Sande's The Peacemaker. Forgiveness encourages personal growth and allows us to experience more meaningful relationships with others, and most importantly a deeper connection with God (Sande, 2004). The heart of the book is divided into four steps of resolving conflict; glorifying God, getting the log out of your eye, gently restoring, and reconciliation (Sande, 2004).
Giving glory to God teaches us to place our trust in Him during times of conflict, reflecting his presence in our lives (Sande, 2004). We should not only give the glory to God, but also give Him our conflicts and struggles, He wants to lighten our hearts and our minds. How often do we meet God in prayer, turning over the conflicts of our heart only to resume the same
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The slope begins with “escape responses” that include denying there is a conflict, escaping from the conflict through avoidance, and self-destruction and loss of hope (Sande, 2004). At the peak of the slope, there are “peacemaking responses”, intentionally placed at the top as they reflect the higher ground we are on when we approach conflict based on what we know to be Biblical truth (Sande, 2004). This includes, but is not limited to, disregarding the action, finding harmony with the offender through forgiveness, and taking responsibility for one's actions, even if it requires involving others (Sande, 2004). Lastly, at the bottom of the slope, there are “attack responses” which can be devastating to relationships (Sande, 2004). These are comprised of verbal and physical attacks on another, resolving issues by utilizing the legal system, and ultimately by taking another person’s life (Sande, 2004). At the base of the slope, both sides include the loss of life, either the loss of one’s own life or taking the life of another (Sande,
Believers of the Old and New Testaments claim that violence is a sin and can only lead to more brutality and death; poet Tony Barnstone firmly agrees. In his poem “Parable in Praise of Violence” Barnstone lambastes the American obsession with violence-- that it is often triggered by inevitable events which could be handled in different manners. The speaker in “Parable in Praise of Violence” reflects on all parts of his “sinful” culture and comes to the realization that people often use violence as a way to deal with emotions of grief and anger caused by events and concepts they cannot explain.
Forgiveness is a very important skill to have. It can help you retain friendships and rekindle old ones. There is so much forgiveness in the novel A Separate Peace. When Phineas is pushed off the tree limb during the school year, he brings up the idea that it was Gene’s fault he fell, but dismisses it right away. Gene goes to visit Phineas at his home during the summer. He tries to explain to him that it was indeed his fault.
The American Library Association defines a challenge to a book as, “an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based on the objections of a person or group” (“About Banned). A Separate Peace by John Knowles was one of the many challenged books of its time; it was ranked sixty-seventh on the American Literature Association’s list of most challenged classic novels The book continues to be challenged all over the country and in 2013 it is ranked thirty-fifth on the summer of banned books list .(ALA). A Separate Peace chronicles the life of a boy named Gene Forrester, a student of the prestigious Devon School in New Hampshire. In Gene’s first year at Devon. He becomes close friends with his daredevil of a roommate Finny. Secretly Gene somewhat
Forgiveness is to stop feeling angry, to stop blaming someone for the way they made a person feel, and stop feeling victims of whatever wickedness was directed towards them. Is forgiveness necessary? Can everyone be forgiven despite the circumstances? If forgiveness depends on the situation, then is it necessary at all? Does forgiveness allow someone to continue their life in peace? Is forgiving someone who causes physical pain to someone, as a pose to forgiving someone who murdered a member of the family the same? If someone can forgive one of these acts so easily can the other be forgiven just as easy? Forgiveness allows for someone to come to terms with what they have experienced. In the case of murder forgiveness is necessary because it allows for someone to be at peace with themselves knowing they no longer have to live with hatred. It also allows someone to begin a new life with new gained experience and different perspectives on life. Forgiveness is necessary from a moral perspective because it allows someone to get rid of hatred and find peace within him or herself to move on with their lives.
Mella, J. S., Jáuregui, C. A., Fischer, E. F., Guayasamín, O. (2008). Of rage and redemption: The
A black woman refused to give up a seat for a white man and was arrest
Third is Stress Reaction – For every action there is always a reaction and how individual reacts differs and lastly is the Coping responses – the coping response of individual varies and after the injustice some people do not return to their normal state leading to unforgiveness which has bad effects which can be physical or psychological and so the need for coping mechanism either by going the biblical way for divine justice from God or the offended partner may
Conflicts within relationships are inevitable and some conflict can help strengthen a relationship; however, in marriages and families, many people fail to work through their conflict, which results in unhealthy patterns of behavior. Over time, if left unresolved, these patterns of behavior can lead to a breaking of the relationship. Furthermore, most people do not set out seeking conflict within relationships, but rather they lack the emotional maturity to move through conflict. In fact, it is not the differences between the two parties that create the conflict, but rather the emotional reaction to their differences. Therefore, an intervention is required to begin the healing process of working through conflict. Often a pastor or counselor
The novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles and “A Poison Tree” by William Blake, display how one must forgive their friends for forgiveness is the only way to separate friends from enemies. After an accident, in A Separate Peace Finny, his best friend forgives him immediately, while the rest of their class suspect Gene had malicious intent. Similarly, William Blake forgives his friend promptly in his poem, nonetheless, he holds a grudge against his enemy till his anger explodes. Both works show how a powerful friendship can overcome adversity; conversely, those distrusted face anger.
Most people do not know the limits of their actions, until they are faced with an injustice. Actions taken by one person may well be different from those of another. Human reactions are as unique as individuals themselves. Why do some people take matters of revenge or injustice into their own hands while others are content to let justice take its course? An individual’s morals, background, the reward at stake, and how personal the situation may be, all contribute to how far a person is willing to go to right a wrong. Where is the line drawn? Are there limits that a person would self-impose to right a wrong?
Callwood uses terms with negative connotations to create an uneasy feeling or even fear in readers and inspire them to consider forgiveness. The idea the "heart attacks occur more often" (164) in people who hold more anger leads readers to believe that being unforgiving can potentially be physically dangerous. An increase in anger, which Callwood explains is the "polar opposite of forgiveness," (162) is stated as a contributing factor to worldwide ethnic and religious conflicts, as well as those of a
When compared to each-other, each of the religion’s approach to justice and forgiveness is remarkably similar. Although the customs and standards may vary widely, and in fact vary even within different sects of each religion, justice and forgiveness operate on largely the same principle: man’s nature is to act against God’s justice, but man is capable of repairing his relationship with God through the process of forgiveness.
4. Dodge, Kenneth A., John E. Bates, and Gregory S. Pettit. 1990. “Mechanisms in the Cycle of Violence.” Science 250: 1678–83.
Marty, Martin E. "The ethos of Christian forgiveness." Dimensions of forgiveness: Psychological research and theological perspectives (2008): 9-28.
Forgiveness is freedom. There is a key that opens the door to healing, happiness and peace, that key is forgiveness. Forgiveness starts from you and it is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Forgiveness of both self and others is the most powerful tool we have, and it is readily attainable to all of us .Take a step of creating a kinder humanity by forgiving someone in your life. If you are convinced and ready to forgive, you may be wondering where to start. My suggestion is to start small by letting go of the grudges, bitterness and anger.