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The essence and definition of forgiveness

From Robert Enright

Keywords:

Through forgiveness we offer goodness of some kind: kindness, respect, generosity or love.

Video Interview Transcript

One thing we did in our Friday forgiveness seminar that's been going on since 1985 is to try and find what the definition of forgiveness is. And we tried to find the common core or what Socrates would call the essence of forgiveness. Yes, you see different definitions from east to west and different cultures but a lot of times they're still talking about the essence or the core of forgiveness while they put in some cultural nuances. And so in our interdisciplinary, in our cross-cultural and interfaith group, in other words we have people from all over the world sitting in on this Friday seminar, we looked at the different kind of literatures in Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, humanism. And what we tried to do is bring the definition to such a basic level that most people in most of these belief systems and different cultures would agree to it.
And here's what we think forgiveness is. First it takes place in the context of injustice and we try to get rid of something negative which is resentment toward the one who hurt us and to offer goodness of some kind to that person whether it's kindness, respect, generosity or moral love, what the ancient Greeks called the apape which is being in service to the other. When you put the virtue of justice alongside that, the other doesn't necessarily deserve this goodness but forgiveness offers that nonetheless. Three parts to the definition. First there's been an injustice. Second we commit to getting rid of the negative which is a resentment toward those who have hurt us. And we offer goodness of some kindness, respect, generosity or love. It seems to me philosophically the highest form of forgiveness is to unconditionally love those who have hurt us. It's higher than respect because you can respect someone from a distance. Love enters into the other world for their sake.

Discussion starter questions
  • How do you feel about giving goodness to somehow who hurted you?
  • ...

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Director's note

Robert Enright and his interdisciplinary, cross-cultural and interfaith group, in other words people from all over the world sitting in on this Friday seminar, looked at the different kind of literatures in Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, humanism. And what they tried to do is bring the definition to such a basic level that most people in most of these belief systems and different cultures would agree to it.

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