Forgiveness is an experience that is personal to an individual and can be influenced by faith. While religion can give guidelines for how to forgive, individuals may react differently depending on the circumstance and may also interpret their faith individually. For individuals who are less devout or have secular points of view they would have to find their own criteria for evaluating whether forgiveness should or should not be given.
Having a faith gives direction. Whether inspiration comes from a religious text or teaching, there is typically a standard for dealing with different severities of offenses. Theodore M. Hesburgh, a priest, once wrote:
“If asked for forgiveness I would forgive because God would forgive. If I had suffered as so many had, it might be much more difficult, but I hope I would still be forgiving, not from my own small position but as a surrogate for our almighty and all forgiving God.”
This further shows that his devout faith is the motivation for forgiving a wide array of transgressions. This strong sense of faith can give one the ability to place all transgressions into one category; the forgiven category. While others who share the same faith may not be readily able to grant absolution.
One may believe in the same higher power and read from the identical religious text but may range each transgression differently from the unforgiveable to the minuscule and weigh their ability to forgive. Their approach to absolution could differ because they would know, based on their faith, that they should grant forgiveness though they may struggle in doing so. This person would have to find the balance between their faith and their ability to find peace and move ahead.
Finding it within oneself to forgive does not necessarily mean one would or should forget the wrongs they have dealt with. In progressing into the future the Dalai Lama best summarizes the importance of not forgetting.
“I believe one should forgive the person or persons who have committed atrocities against oneself and mankind. But this does not necessarily mean one should forget about the atrocities committed. In fact, one should be aware and remember these experiences so that efforts can be made to check the reoccurrence of such atrocities in the future.”
The importance of forgiving and forgetting affects those with religious beliefs as well as those with a secular point of view.
Someone who is not spiritual or religious would use rationale to vindicate someone. By asking questions like: “How badly was the offense?”; “Was I harmed physically? emotionally?”; “What did the offense “cost” me?”; “If I forgive them, will it happen again?”, someone is able to evaluate their thoughts and feelings to place blame and/or forgiveness accordingly. With weighing how severe an action or inaction has been, an individual may also consider if there was malicious intent. The answers would play a major part in how easily forgiveness is granted not the teachings of faith.
I fall into the third category: an individual with a secular point of view who rationalizes everything. In the weeks of debating ‘forgiveness’ while reading The Sunflower I was moved by the words of Deborah E. Lipstadt, “Atonement only comes after one bears the consequences of one’s acts”. While rationalizing my thoughts and placing blame her essay has taught me to that repentance needs to be genuine and that atonement isn’t something that should just be given; it should be earned.
Forgiveness is a personal experience that is private to each individual and The Sunflower is a perfect example. There are characters that embrace the guidelines of their faith and would easily grant forgiveness. Some, due to the experiences, are not willing to forgive regardless of the religious lessons they have learned. Those with a secular point of view are left to deal with their experiences without the influence of faith and must weigh the possibility of forgiveness with the expectation from a higher being.
Having a faith gives direction. Whether inspiration comes from a religious text or teaching, there is typically a standard for dealing with different severities of offenses. Theodore M. Hesburgh, a priest, once wrote:
“If asked for forgiveness I would forgive because God would forgive. If I had suffered as so many had, it might be much more difficult, but I hope I would still be forgiving, not from my own small position but as a surrogate for our almighty and all forgiving God.”
This further shows that his devout faith is the motivation for forgiving a wide array of transgressions. This strong sense of faith can give one the ability to place all transgressions into one category; the forgiven category. While others who share the same faith may not be readily able to grant absolution.
One may believe in the same higher power and read from the identical religious text but may range each transgression differently from the unforgiveable to the minuscule and weigh their ability to forgive. Their approach to absolution could differ because they would know, based on their faith, that they should grant forgiveness though they may struggle in doing so. This person would have to find the balance between their faith and their ability to find peace and move ahead.
Finding it within oneself to forgive does not necessarily mean one would or should forget the wrongs they have dealt with. In progressing into the future the Dalai Lama best summarizes the importance of not forgetting.
“I believe one should forgive the person or persons who have committed atrocities against oneself and mankind. But this does not necessarily mean one should forget about the atrocities committed. In fact, one should be aware and remember these experiences so that efforts can be made to check the reoccurrence of such atrocities in the future.”
The importance of forgiving and forgetting affects those with religious beliefs as well as those with a secular point of view.
Someone who is not spiritual or religious would use rationale to vindicate someone. By asking questions like: “How badly was the offense?”; “Was I harmed physically? emotionally?”; “What did the offense “cost” me?”; “If I forgive them, will it happen again?”, someone is able to evaluate their thoughts and feelings to place blame and/or forgiveness accordingly. With weighing how severe an action or inaction has been, an individual may also consider if there was malicious intent. The answers would play a major part in how easily forgiveness is granted not the teachings of faith.
I fall into the third category: an individual with a secular point of view who rationalizes everything. In the weeks of debating ‘forgiveness’ while reading The Sunflower I was moved by the words of Deborah E. Lipstadt, “Atonement only comes after one bears the consequences of one’s acts”. While rationalizing my thoughts and placing blame her essay has taught me to that repentance needs to be genuine and that atonement isn’t something that should just be given; it should be earned.
Forgiveness is a personal experience that is private to each individual and The Sunflower is a perfect example. There are characters that embrace the guidelines of their faith and would easily grant forgiveness. Some, due to the experiences, are not willing to forgive regardless of the religious lessons they have learned. Those with a secular point of view are left to deal with their experiences without the influence of faith and must weigh the possibility of forgiveness with the expectation from a higher being.