Оглавление
L. William Countryman. Forgiven and Forgiving
FORGIVEN and Forgiving
Contents
Why Forgiveness?
Forgiveness—Not Quite What You Thought
What Forgiveness Isn't
What Forgiveness Is
Forgiveness and the Basic Structure of Reality
Forgiving Oneself
Do We Really Accept God's Forgiveness?
Forgiveness or Perfection?
Forgiving the Wrongs We Have Done to Ourselves
Forgiving Ourselves for the Wrongs We Have Done to Others?
Forgiveness in Communities
Living in Forgiveness
Forgiving One Another—Opportunity or Demand?
The Social Dimension of Forgiveness
Forgiving One Another
Dealing with Past Harms
Forgiving Others for Our Own Sakes
Forgiveness Builds the Future
Forgiveness and the Future
Love, Not Duty
The Promise of a Future Out of Our Control
The Heart of Forgiveness
Risk, Not Stupidity
But Is This Enough?
Some Practical Problems
Apologies—and Their Absence
The Absent Offender
The Abusive Situation and the Repeat Offender
Forgiving the Church—and Other Sacred Authorities
When Forgiveness is Not Forthcoming—The Other Side of the Problem
The Forgiving Spirit
The Spiritual Journey of Forgiveness
The Gift of a Forgiving Spirit
The Burden of an Unforgiving Spirit
Emotions—Blessing or Curse?
Hurt, Anger, and Helplessness
Love, Death, and Resurrection
Realism and Hope
Suffering and Growth
The Delight of Forgiveness
Forgiveness and the Life of Faith
Habitual Forgiveness
Forgiveness and Justice
The Authority to Forgive
Growing in Faith and Forgiveness
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Отрывок из книги
L. William Countryman
Forgiveness—Not Quite What You Thought
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At the end of the story, we don't know whether the good son decides to go indoors and join the festivities or whether he decides to stay outside and sulk. Has he made such a sharp distinction between himself and his younger, more irresponsible brother that he can no longer see the two of them as linked; or will he choose to see himself as part of the family's restored and loving unity? Good question!
This isn't a trifling issue, nor is it purely an individual one. A sense of moral superiority can actually cut a person off from the humanity we all share with one another. In the larger community, moral superiority (or even the claim to it or the appearance of it) can produce chasms dividing one group from another. A sense of moral superiority can erect walls between social groups—or can be used to justify walls erected for other reasons. It can also be a tool or weapon to give one group an advantage over another.
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