I think the significant confusion about forgiveness involves the need for repentance by the offender. So many of us struggle with a desire to forgive, but when there is no acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a prideful resistance from the offender, it intuitively seems that forgiveness does not have much meaning.
That being said, is there ever a place for forgiveness in the absence of repentance or acknowledgment of wrongdoing by the offender? There might be a time and place for that, if only for the partial mental and emotional healing of the victim.
I appreciate much of what is said here. Curious if the author has engaged Jonathan Rutledge's work, <em>Forgiveness and Atonement</em> (on which see https://open.substack.com/pub/inchristus/p/forgiveness-and-atonement-christs. See also my essay https://inchristus.com/2024/11/11/on-forgiveness/.
I think the significant confusion about forgiveness involves the need for repentance by the offender. So many of us struggle with a desire to forgive, but when there is no acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a prideful resistance from the offender, it intuitively seems that forgiveness does not have much meaning.
That being said, is there ever a place for forgiveness in the absence of repentance or acknowledgment of wrongdoing by the offender? There might be a time and place for that, if only for the partial mental and emotional healing of the victim.
Forgiveness! What a wonderful gift to give and receive.
So true!