Forgiveness has often been viewed as a religious obligation but is increasingly being advocated as a means of healing, release and promoting wellbeing. Forgiveness is variously viewed as a duty, virtue or cure, but when it comes to practising forgiveness in real life we find it is always caught up in the complexity of the situation. This book shines a light on how we tend to think about forgiveness in practice, including examples from social work, family therapy, chaplaincy and criminal justice.The book contains many different perspectives on how we think about forgiveness, including overviews of four major religions and reflections from those working in the healing professions. Without advocating a particular approach this book raises important questions around self-forgiveness and forgiving institutions and encourages the reader to think again about forgiveness and how it impacts, challenges and transforms relationships.

Introduction. Stephen Hance, Dean of Derby. 1. Reflections on Forgiveness: Some Jewish Perspectives. Howard Cooper, Director of Spiritual Development, Finchley Reform Synagogue. 2. Forgiveness and Christianity. Anthony Bash, Honorary Professor, Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University. 3. Forgiveness in Islam: From Prophetic Practice to Divine Principle. Reza Shah-Kazemi, Senior Research Associate, Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. 4. Forgiveness in the Buddhist Tradition. Vajragupta, Member of the Triratna Buddhist Community. 5. Out of the Depths: Offenders and Forgiveness. Gwen Adshead, Forensic Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, and Jesse Butler Meadows, Doctor, Hampshire. 6. Uses and Abuses of Self-Forgiveness. Stephen Cherry, Dean of King's College, Cambridge. 7. On Forgiveness and Medical Harm. Deborah Bowman, Professor, Bioethics & Clinical Ethics, St. George's, University of London. 8. Restorative Justice and Forgiveness. Marian Liebmann, Mediation Trainer, Art Therapist and Supervisor. 9. Understanding Revenge: An Invitation to Let Go. Robin Shohet, Psychotherapist and Supervisor. 10. A Pastor Looks at Forgiveness. Stephen Hance, Dean of Derby. 11. The Role of Forgiveness After Interpersonal Abuse. Christiane Sanderson, Senior Lecturer, Psychology, University of Roehampton. 12. Families, Forgiving and Withholding Forgiveness. Honor Rhodes, Director of Strategic Development, Tavistock Relationships. 13. Birth Parents, Adoption, Identity and Forgiveness. Amanda Boorman. 14. Forgiveness and End of Life. Steve Nolan, Chaplain, Princess Alice Hospice, Esher. 15. Face to Face with Endless Mercy (How a Christian Community Forgives). Richard Carter, Associate Vicar for Mission, St Martin-in-the-Fields. 16. Forgiveness, the Individual and the Conflict Society. Graham Spencer, Reader in Social and Political Conflict, University of Portsmouth, and Lord Alderdice, Director of the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict, Oxford University. 17. Bearing Witness: How the RESTORE Programme Helps Prisoners Change the Narrative of Their Lives. Marina Cantacuzino, Founder, The Forgiveness Project. 18. Addiction and Forgiveness. Chris Cook, Professor of Spirituality, Theology & Health, Department of Theology & Religion, Durham University, and Wendy Dossett, Senior Lecturer, Religious Studies, University of Chester. Concluding Thoughts. Liz Gulliford, Research Fellow, Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, School of Education, University of Birmingham. About the Contributors.