• Struggling to Forgive
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Struggling to Forgive

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Dr Sue Atkinson tackles the challenging central tenet of forgiveness in her trademark sensitive and accessible manner: how can someone who has experienced trauma be expected to forgive?
  • 20 July 2014
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Forgiveness is a central tenet of the Christian faith and yet it is so difficult to embrace and put into practise. With sensitivity and grace, Dr Sue Atkinson explores what it means. The example of Christians forgiving others is often heralded as one of the great signs of Christian love and yet the call to forgive can have a darker side, particularly for victims of injustice and trauma as it can add to their despair and guilt if they do not 'feel' love or the ability to forgive. Well-meaning Christians can make their situation worse with insensitivity and bluntness. In this timely and empathetic book, full of anecdote, story and illustration, Dr Sue Atkinson, tackles what the call to forgive really means. What do we really do when we forgive? Exploring Jesus teaching about forgiveness and justice, she explodes myths and outlines practical ways in which we can let go of resentments. Highly accessible and sensitive this important book will be a means of grace and comfort for those embracing the challenges of forgiveness.
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Price: $12.99
Pages: 272
Publisher: SPCK
Imprint: Monarch Books
Publication Date: 20 July 2014
ISBN: 9780857215628
Format: eBook
BISACs: Christian life & practice
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Contents
Acknowledgments 9
Foreword by Elaine Storkey 11
Preface 13
Section A
1. How Do We Start to Think About What Forgiving Means? 19
2. The Complications of Forgiveness 25
Section B
3. Richard and Marion’s Stories: A Difficult and Confusing Process 37
4. Jamie’s Story: Weird Christian Thinking, and Striving for Justice 43
5. Diana’s Story: Forgiveness isn’t a “Cure-all” 49
6. John’s Story: Forgive Now, or You’re Doomed 54
7. My Mother’s Story: Hatred Going Down the Generations 58
8. Attacked: Dealing with Outrage and Seeking Justice 62
9. Louise and Her Children are Abandoned: The Relationship Between Forgiving and
Getting an Apology 68
10. Lizzie and the Sex Offender: More Weird Christian Thinking 73
11. Everyday Forgiving: Problems in Ongoing Relationships 78
Section C
12. It’s Not the Same for Everyone 91
13. The Bible and Forgiveness 99
14. God’s Forgiveness and Ours 114
15. It’s All a Matter of Attitude 124
16. Letting Go 132
17. Justice for Everyone 142
18. Trivializing Forgiveness 151
19. Truth Telling and the Link to Justice 156
20. Saying Sorry: Apologies and Burdens 168
21. Why Can’t We Shrug it Off? 174
22. Why is Forgiving So Hard Sometimes? 183
23. It Takes Time to Forgive: Limbic Lag 192
24. Forgiving Ourselves and God 200
25. Can We Define Forgiveness? The Forgiveness Umbrella 208
26. The Forgiving Process: Untangling Some Threads 214
Section D
27. Strategies to Lighten the Load 228
28. For Supporters of People Who are Struggling with Forgiving 247
Resources 265