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Christians teachings on forgiveness essay
Christians teachings on forgiveness essay
Christians teachings on forgiveness essay
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“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.” Martin Luther King. The concept of forgiveness comes easily to some people but hard for others. It is a choice that every human being is faced with in one’s lifetime. Forgiveness is a deep-rooted emotion that controls the process of forgiving or being forgiven. Forgiveness requires compassion and a caring heart; it is truly a selfless act. There are many views and effects when discussing the topic of forgiveness, some of these include, the religious views as well as the positive and negative effects of forgiveness. Religion views forgiveness as one of the most important aspects of living a Christian lifestyle. The Bible gives examples of how to forgive and also how important forgiveness is in …show more content…
One negative effect of not showing forgiveness can lead to a decrease in one’s health by causing elevated stress levels, high blood pressure, depression, and psychological issues. It can also lead to mental congestion by blurring one’s thinking and focus because one’s mind can be preoccupied by the past events. Having a mind focused on the past can cause grudges, anger, and resentments, which greatly increases more problems in everyday life with others. Being unwilling to forgive can negatively affect people’s emotions in a drastic way. Negative emotions can tear families apart, friendships, and even lifelong relationships. Holding bitterness within can block positive emotions from others that are trying to help; it can overcome one’s entire life. It is no secret that an unforgiving spirit can poison one’s heart with bitterness. Without forgiveness and reconciliation there is no doubt that a fruitless relationship will persist until death. Not forgiving will cause nothing but pain and misery. It is evident that the negative effects of not having forgiveness will only lead to a life of bitterness and
—Forgiveness is a suite of prosocial motivational changes that happened after a person has incurred a transgression (McCullogh). McCullogh also asserts the forgiveness process includes empathy for the transgressor, generous attributions and appraisals regarding the transgression and transgressor, and rumination abalout the transgression where agreeableness takes a serious place in the person who needs to forgive someone. Andre was impressed by his father’s work, the emotion developed in Andre’s mind have given up revenge and resentment thought to his father. When Andre’s father had an accident that made his legs crushed and had to sit on a wheelchair for the rest of his life; Andre immediately felt how vulnerable people are. He cherished the relationship with his father, in fact after the accident Andre started to cherish everyone besides him. The accident was a trigger to a prosocial motivational change to Andre and his father’s relationship. “But deliver us from evil. Amen” (Dubus, 387). Andre prayed on his father’s funeral. Forgiveness needs something to trigger; Andre understand pop’s condition and forgave him. Andre knew that his father has done the best he could, and he was happy and grateful that he had a father. Moreover, Andre’s life was full of sports, the healing process was impacted by
It is not something that the victim owes or to which the perpetrator has a right. In forgiving, the victim raises a dissident voice against revenge. Like all dissidence, forgiveness purports both to destroy existing injustice and to construct better politics” (Philpott, 251). Forgiveness may be one of the least understood and yet potentially most necessary act required in order for a society to fully break a cycle of violence and totally reconcile. Forgiveness is central to Christian doctrine and plays a key role in advocacy by major religious leaders in response to mass violence—none more so than Archbishop Desmond Tutu following the end of the Apartheid in South
The Christian faith focuses on the orientation of the human heart behind human thoughts and actions. Living by faith is a beautiful alternative to the way people think of themselves and the way they live in relation to others in their daily lives (Merrick, 2014). Christians see themselves in terms of God’s profound love for them but not in terms of what they do. The teachings of the Christian faith; nonviolence, non-retaliation, inward integrity, selflessness, and love your neighbor as yourself provide the framework for ethical thinking. Although, adopting belief in Christianity can bring forth confusion in the heart and mind causing agony of learning to sacrifice one’s rightful claims for personal justice for the restoration of another (Merrick, 2014). Unconditional forgiveness is difficult to understand because spiritual forgiveness and actual costly forgiveness is viewed as the same in the gospel. If you do not forgive, then one does not have faith in God’s forgiveness as it really is. Christianity influences a person thinking and behavior developing wisdom which requires faith. The faith that is needed to reorient the heart away from selfishness to selflessness.
In her Cosmopolitan article titled “Get Him to Forgive You,” author Debra Wallace states that there are four steps that a women has to take in order to gain her male significant other’s forgiveness after she has “messed up:”
As I sit here thinking about was forgiveness means to me. I have come to realize that holding in hate is harmful and the outcome physically and mentally could cause undesirable effects. Although, the process of forgiveness can take many years and the process may start with you. The whole process shouldn’t be seen as an obligation, but a remedy to help with your recovery.
Forgiveness and justice are very similar than we believe them to be. We believe that justice is
“The crux of the matter is, of course, the question of forgiveness. Forgetting is something that time alone takes care of, but forgiveness is an act of violation and only the sufferer is qualified to make the decision” (Wiesenthal 97-98). According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, violate means “to fail to show proper respect for” or ‘to abuse or show disrespect for usually by damaging it”. This would mean that the act of forgiveness is the failure to “show proper respect” or to show contempt for “usually by damage”. If this is the case, forgiveness is not an acceptable things. Forgiveness is not an acceptable things; it is something that God
The article is endeavors to observe the possible correlation between general forgiveness (actually forgiving) and perceptions of forgiveness (a belief in the concept). This is a summary analyzing the credibility of the article. The summary includes a brief overview and critique of the title, abstract, literature review, methodology, a review of results and discussion, and possible improvements to the study. The title and abstract were brief and concise. Methodology used to acquire data was credible, but needs improvement. Discussion and results were presented in an applicable manner. An overall consensus of the article is that it presents a first step in the study of forgiveness, but, the nature of forgiveness needs further clarification, if to be use as a useful technique in psychotherapy.
Forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do concerning one another’s well-being. The step of forgiveness requires us to look past the wrongs that have been done to us, and without any sort of retribution or atonement of sorts, drop that wrong-doing out of the scope of the relationship and move on. Christianity and Psychology have differing, yet surprisingly similar ways of looking at the role of forgiving one another. The agreement is obvious, Psychologists and Christians alike recognize that forgiveness has great value in preserving relationships, not just personal but communal as well. The disagreement tends to be a difference of opinion in what context forgiveness is appropriate. The question then bears itself, who is right? Should we
The motivation and tendency of people to forgive others remains an important topic of discussion. In today’s society most people at some period have experienced feeling of un forgiveness towards friend, or relatives. “Forgiveness was defined as the ability to relinquish of resentment towards others” (Baskin & Enright, 2004, p. 80).
Did you know that forgiving doesn’t mean you approve of inadequate behavior? Inadequate behavior is made by unacceptable choices and either you are forgiven or the other people involved don’t forgive you. When someone does something wrong and you forgive them it doesn’t mean that what they did is forgotten or that it was necessary. If you don’t forgive someone, you are still thinking about it and it will bother you until you forgive them. An act of forgiveness is an important choice in everyday life and you might consider these three questions consisting of: are there experiences in your own life that have shaped your understanding of forgiveness, to what degree should we forgive others, and what rules and norms have shaped the way you examine forgiveness in the world?
There is usually a feeling of change and attitude that regards positive alternatives towards an offender. In this situation acts like vengefulness is overlooked. In short, contrary or deconstructive emotions are not included in the predicament. Forgiveness is one of the best elements of the pro-social emotions that assist in improving the mental position of an individual including the surrounding environment. Forgiveness also leads to peaceful environments. It is also described as a legal terminology for giving up all claims on the perception of debt or duty to do something (Kimonis et al., 1249). Forgiveness on social grounds is not considered in politics. This pro-social emotion gives a relief on things that cannot be replaced. The term is mostly used in religion. People spiritually understand why forgiveness is appropriate and spread it. Therefore, the mental situation of the kind person and the one forgiven is stable and at peace. Activities run well without fear of meeting the party one has offended. Thus freedom of mind and operation is restored. This implies that physical health, well being, of the human body is at peace too. Those who apply forgiveness many times achieve a lot because they save time in doing constructive
“Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s actually remembering, remembering and not using your right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a new beginning. And the remembering part is particularly important. Especially if you don’t want to repeat what happened” The ideas that lie behind Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s quote are his faith in God and the goodness of humanity. In No Future without Forgiveness the reader delves deeper into the spiritual mind of his thoughts on the forgiveness process in a personal and communal manner.
... it? Forgiveness is not easy for some to ask for or give. Some situations often make people feel or believe that forgiveness of wrongdoing acts are not worth giving or sometimes receiving. This belief is especially viewed if the wrongdoing is considered as evil. Indeed, experts say that forgiving those who have wronged us helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart rate. (Haupt 2012) Haupt mentions in her article, How to Forgive, And Why You Should, that Duke University researchers reported a strong link between forgiveness and strengthened immunity among HIV-positive patients. Haupt further states that benefits aren't just limited to the physical. Letting go of old grudges reduces levels of depression, anxiety, and anger. People who forgive tend to have better relationships, feel happier and more optimistic, and overall enjoy better psychological well-being.
Scholar Robert D. Enright ,believes that “ forgiveness is not condoning or excusing, because forgiving is not downplaying or distorting what has happened as if what one suffered is something no to be taken seriously “ (2001). Forgiveness is not forgetting evil acts nor condone offense or hatred but realising that when we hold on to horror and pain of every offense, it diminishes our lives. Furthermore, we should realize that we can’t change who offended us but can only change our physical, psychological and emotional response to the offense. Besides, I made a choice to accept the impact forgiveness had on me, and that has helped me regain my sense of wholeness and restore my inner light. It is crucial to remember and learn that forgiveness can’t be put off, but must be selfless and from the heart. We should learn to forgive from most of the things that life presented to us, from anger, loss, survival and even perseverance. For reasons best known to us, we may feel that it is difficult to forgive others who deeply hurt us. We insisted that, that person is not worthy of our forgiveness. That process of continuous crossing that bridge that held you over the pains you experienced, will lead you to a life of greater peace and acceptance. Furthermore, because I had continuously stepped on it, it has carried me and connected me to another side of life that I have discovered. If you’re