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Forgiveness. The Importance of Forgiveness. Forgiveness. Forgiveness is typically defined as the process of concluding resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offence, difference or mistake and or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. Forgiveness.
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Forgiveness The Importance of Forgiveness
Forgiveness • Forgiveness is typically defined as the process of concluding resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offence, difference or mistake and or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution.
Forgiveness Forgiveness accordingly to The Oxford English Dictionary is… “to grant free pardon and to give up all claim on account of an offense or debt”
Studies shows that people who forgive are happier than those who hold resentments. (forgiving.org) • The first study to look at how forgiveness improves physical health discovered that when people think about forgiving an offender it leads to improved functioning in their cardiovascular and nervous system. (“Granting Forgiveness or Harboring Grudges: Implication for Emotions, Physiology and Health”)Oyen…
Judaism • In Judaism if a person causes harm, but then sincerely and honestly apologizes to the wronged individual and tries to rectify the wrong, the wronged individual is religiously required to grant forgiveness.
Christianity • “Then Peter came and said to Him, • Lord how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? • Jesus said to him, • I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times • Matthew 18:21-22 (NAS)
Islam Islam teaches that God is Al-Ghaffur“ The All Forgiving”
Buddhism In Buddhism, forgiveness is seen as a practice to prevent harmful thoughts from causing havoc on one’s mental well-being. • “Psychjourney ; introduction to Buddhism Series”
Patience Be patient, because this is also a charity; everyone should practice the law of charity as taught by Christ, Who is God's Envoy. Charity given to the poor in the form of a]ms is the easiest of all. However, there is another kind of charity which is much more laborious and so consequently offers higher merit. That is to forgive all those placed in your pathway by God to act as instruments for your suffering and to test your patience.
CHAPTER 10 BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL
FORGIVE OTHERS SO THAT GOD MAY FORGIVE YOU Mercy is a complement to mildness, because the person who is not merciful cannot be mild and pacific. Mercy consists of being able to forget and forgive all offence. Hate and rancour denotes a Spirit without any elevation or magnanimity. Being able to forget offences is the mark of an elevated soul, which does not perturb itself with the blows it may be dealt.
However, there are two very different ways of forgiving: the first is noble and great, truly generous without any hidden thoughts, which delicately avoids hurting the self-esteem and susceptibility of the adversary, even when that same adversary has no justification for his or her acts. The second, on the other hand, is when someone who has been offended, or thinks they have been offended, imposes humiliating conditions on the supposed adversary, making felt the weight of the pardon, which can only cause further irritation instead of calming
RECONCILIATION WITH YOUR ADVERSARIES Agree with thine adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing (Matthew, 5:25 & 26).
When Jesus recommends that we should reconcile ourselves with our adversaries as soon as possible, this is not merely with the object of pacifying any discords during the actual existence, but principally to avoid their perpetuation into the future life. Jesus said: " No one can leave this prison until the last cent of their debt has been paid," that is to say, not until God's justice has been completely satisfied
