Power to forgive: interpersonal forgiveness from an analytical perspective on power
This article investigates how to understand interpersonal forgiveness from a Christian perspective through content analysis of research-based literature on forgiveness. The analysis is supported by theory of power approach, and the science of diaconia is used as a lens to describe a Christian perspe...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Springer Nature B. V
2023
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| In: |
International journal for philosophy of religion
Year: 2023, Volume: 93, Issue: 2, Pages: 147-162 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Forgiveness
/ Interpersonal relationship
/ Power
/ Sexual abuse
/ Christianity
/ Service
/ Forgiveness of sins
/ History 1987-2020
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| IxTheo Classification: | CA Christianity KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history NBE Anthropology NCC Social ethics NCF Sexual ethics RG Pastoral care RK Charity work |
| Further subjects: | B
Forgiveness
B Diaconia B Reconciliation B Trauma B Power |
| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article investigates how to understand interpersonal forgiveness from a Christian perspective through content analysis of research-based literature on forgiveness. The analysis is supported by theory of power approach, and the science of diaconia is used as a lens to describe a Christian perspective. The focus is on how forgiveness can be used and misused when encountering people with traumatic experiences of violation manifested by sexual misconduct in church context. The aim is to discuss an understanding of forgiveness that conveys freedom and redresses for the offended, but also for the offender.The content analysis led to the following thematic categories: (1) forgiveness of fellow humans related to God’s forgiving of human, (2) the role and function of forgiveness in the personal life of human, and (3) forgiveness as an issue between people. Here, an important aspect is the necessity of exploring the three perspectives in dialogue with each other, to decrease the risk of misusing forgiveness by not addressing the issue of responsibility. Forgiveness must be conceptualized within the preconditions for God’s forgiving of humans by considering how the violation has influenced the violated’s self-understanding (the inner relational dimension) and the contextual status of the violator’s position of power (the outer dimension). This provides a basis from which to consider whether forgiveness will contribute to an uplifting and liberating outcome or is misused by avoiding clarification of the party responsible for the violation. |
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| ISSN: | 1572-8684 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: International journal for philosophy of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1007/s11153-022-09857-8 |