Anger, hatred, resentment, grudges-when the products of conflict smolder for years, decades, or centuries, the idea of peace may seem elusive and unrealistic. At the same time, people and societies need to move beyond these negative traumatic effects so they can heal. Forgiveness and Reconciliation explores in depth two different yet essential components of this peace-building process.

"The book addresses the need to move via forgiveness and reconciliation beyond the negative effects of trauma on individuals, couples, families, and communities. Both human-created trauma and the spiritual and psychological distress that results from natural cause (e.g. earthquakes, floods, illness, and impending death) are included as situations that call forth the need to forgive others, the universe, God, and, at times, oneself. The authors will approach forgiveness from several perspectives: social-psychological, biopsychological, human developmental, multi-generational, psychotherapeutic, psychoeducational, spiritual, via the media and the arts, or through construction of memorials, as well from a perspective of working toward world peace."

Theoretical Perspectives.- Introduction: Issues and Themes in Forgiveness and Reconciliation.- A Systemic Framework for Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and Peace: Interconnecting Psychological and Social Processes.- Forgiveness and Relational Ethics: The Perspective of the Contextual Therapist.- The Psychology of Forgiveness in the World Religions.- The Bullet and Its Meaning: Forgiveness, Nonforgiveness, and Their Confrontation.- Individual and Interpersonal Levels.- Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Essential to Sustaining Human Development.- Art and Meaning: ARTiculation© as a Modality in Processing Forgiveness and Peace Consciousness.- Promoting Forgiveness Through Restorative Conferencing.- Guilt, Responsibility, and Forgiveness: Lessons from Lifers in Prison.- Intergroup, Societal, and International Levels.- A Black Social Psychologist's Perspective on Racial Forgiveness.- Rwanda: Repentance and Forgiveness - Pillars of Genuine Reconciliation.- Darfur: Efforts to Forgive and Reconcile in an Unresolved Conflict.- India and Pakistan on the Brink: Considerations for Truth, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness.- Forgiveness in the Context of the Armenian Experience.- Forgiveness in Spite of Denial, Revisionism, and Injustice.- Reconciliation and Forgiveness in Divided Societies: A Path of Courage, Compassion, and Commitment.- Dialogue, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation.