Forgiveness A Bridge Across Abysses Of Forgiveness Summary

Chapter 8: Forgiveness-A Bridge across Abysses of Revenge The article focused on the topic of forgiveness and the past. Specifically how it relates to incidents which have happened throughout history with various countries during war times. Donald W. Shriver talks about the different approaches to how nations have dealt with war crimes and massacres, and great injustices in the past. He gave one example of how Americans has the tendency to either deny such allegations or try to forget about the past. This is much different compared to other countries like Germany who have dealt intentionally about their past mistakes rather than trying to forget them and move on. He spoke about forgiveness within politics and how they can play a major role within nations moving on from the past as opposed to still holding on to it. The point was made about even though the actual fighting between different nations is over the war is never over until each actually forgives the other for their role, and apologizes for their own.
There were four main points when looking at forgiveness within the political health of a nation. The first is forgiveness begins when the victims abandon revenge and perpetrators abandon professions
I can speak from experience that there have been at times when feelings brought up from the past evoke a certain level of anger which can be completely leveled though kind words of apologies and forgiveness. This is an applicable article to us as a Nation because often so many times we are divided by so many different reasons, and ultimately no matter how big in the end we are all here to love each other. As Christians in order to draw others we have to show that forgiveness is necessary to move on. We do not understand people look at our every move and will judge us based on their observation of us. To show them that we can forgive, can help them learn how to forgive and move