Wounds Not Healed by Time: The Power of Repentance and ForgivenessHow should we respond to injuries done to us and to the hurts that we inflict on others? In this thoughtful book, Wounds Not Healed By Time, Solomon Schimmel guides us through the meanings of justice, forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation. In doing so, he probes to the core of the human encounter with evil, drawing on religious traditions, psychology, philosophy, and the personal experiences of both perpetrators and of victims. Christianity, Judaism and Islam call for forgiveness and repentance in our relations with others. Yet, as Schimmel points out, there are significant differences between them as to when and whom to forgive. Is forgiving always more moral than refusing to forgive? Is it ever immoral to forgive? When is repentance a pre-condition for forgiveness, and what does repentance entail? Schimmel explores these questions in diverse contexts, ranging from conflicts in a marriage and personal slights we experience every day to enormous crimes such as the Holocaust. He applies insights on forgiveness and repentance to the Middle East, post-apartheid South Africa, inter-religious relationships, and the criminal justice system. In Wounds Not Healed By Time, Schimmel also provides practical strategies to help us forgive and repent, preparing the way for healing and reconciliation between individuals and groups. "It is my belief," Schimmel concludes, "that the best balm for the resentment, rage, guilt, and shame engendered by human evil lies in finding the proper balance between justice, repentance, and forgiveness." |
Contents
3 | |
Revenge Justice | 11 |
The Essence of Forgiveness | 40 |
Why When to Forgive | 61 |
How to Forgive | 89 |
Forgiving Oneself Forgiving God | 121 |
The Essence of Repentance | 141 |
Repentance Reconciliation | 182 |
The South African Experience | 220 |
Notes | 227 |
251 | |
259 | |
261 | |
Other editions - View all
Wounds Not Healed by Time: The Power of Repentance and Forgiveness Solomon Schimmel Limited preview - 2004 |
Wounds Not Healed by Time: The Power of Repentance and Forgiveness Solomon Schimmel Limited preview - 2002 |
Wounds Not Healed by Time: The Power of Repentance and Forgiveness Solomon Schimmel Limited preview - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
accept acknowledge actions anger apologize asked attitude aware become behavior believe better Bible biblical caused Christian committed compassion concern confession consider crimes criminal death desire develop difficult divine effect emotional enemies especially evil example expect experience expressed father fear feel felt forgiven forgiveness give given God’s guilt hand harm hatred hope human hurt important includes individual injury innocent Israel Jesus Jewish Jews Judaism justice justify killed less live Lord means moral Moreover murderer nature never offender one’s overcome pain parents past Perhaps perpetrator person possible prison psychological punishment Rabbi reason reconciliation reflect relationship religious remorse repentance requires respect responsibility retribution revenge sense sinner sins social society someone Sometimes spiritual suffering teachings things thoughts torture turn understand values victim wife wrong