Forgiveness, The Deeds of Mercy, Accepting Responsibility
cite the book's title and author in the first line
Assert FORGIVENESS in the first paragraph with THREE different definitions, using THREE sources. CITE the sources in the first paragraph.
In the following paragraph, summarize the four stories that we covered in class, citing specific pages and quotes. ( you can find them in the ebook I upload, << why forgive>>)
pg78...The Deeds of Mercy
pg172...Accepting Responsibility
pg121...Forgiveness and Marriage
pg152...Blaming God
In your concluding paragraphs, give THREE personal suggestions for incorporating forgiveness in our lives with the hope of achieving a) inner peace b) a better understanding of the human condition and c) promoting better relationships in our lives. Use THREE additional references here to support the material in these paragraphs. For instance, use a source to define inner peace or link between forgiveness and the quality of life as suggested by, perhaps, some philosopher or psychologist, etc.
Suggested length: 3 or more pages PLUS Title and Works Cited pages.
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Topic Forgiveness
Introduction
There are many ways by which the term forgiveness can be defined. According to Enright, forgiveness is the consciousness and a deliberate decision by a given person aimed at releasing feelings or vengeance towards another individual that had either harmed or used abusive language towards that individual forging as to whether that person deserves it or not (2). It is important to remember that forgiveness does not mean forgetting the ordeal; neither does it mean condoning the act nor excusing the offense (Macaskill, Maltby and Liza, 3). Minow defines forgiveness as an intentional and voluntary process whereby a victim undergoes a change of attitude and feelings towards an offense, letting go negative emotions like vengeance, with an increased ability to wish whoever had offended them well (2).
This essay examines forgiveness in relation to stories like The Deeds of Mercy, Accepting Responsibility, Forgiveness and Marriage, and Blaming God.
Summary of the Deed of Mercy
Alan Paton writes in his famous Novel known as Too Late the Phalarope about a certain respected man who commits what has been described in his society as a sin that cannot be pardoned; the sin of adultery. When his secrets of engaging in extra-marital affairs are brought to the public knowledge his family becomes very much devastated. Everybody, including his friends begins to desert him, his relatives spurn him, and his family becomes so devastated. This man also died with a lot of shame. However, there is this neighbor of his who is agonized with the incident. He was quoted as saying that:
“Any offender can be punished.” He also said that, “punishing someone and not restoring is the greatest of all offenses.” (Arnold, 78)
This means that if a man has taken upon himself, God’s right to punish an offense; he should also be ready to replicate God’s duty of restoring the offender. It is important to remember that most of the people would find it difficult to forgive, however much smaller the grudge might be, nonetheless, restoration or better still reconciliation require not only reconciliation, but a vigorous attempt to embrace a person that would be much easier to be avoided. In other words, forgiveness entails embracing people that would be considered to be the worst enemies (Arnold, 78).
Summary of Accepting Responsibility
Whoever has never read the novel by Dietrich Bonhoeffer called Accepting Responsibility will never accept that forgiveness can bring about healing, even situations where healing seems to be impossible. The power of forgiveness is a mystery to some people, but it is crystal clear that the power of forgiveness is strong that some people would get swept away by it against their more rational instincts. At the same time, it is dangerous for one to become glib ab...