Religion and Forgiveness Essays - Emotions, Forgiveness, Mythology

Christianity In the New Testament, Jesus speaks of the importance of Christians forgiving or showing mercy towards others. The Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Parable of the unforgiving servant are perhaps the best known instances of such teaching and practice of forgiveness. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly spoke of forgiveness, ?Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.? Matthew 5:7 ?Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.? Matthew 5:23-24 ?And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.? Mark 11:25 ?But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.? Luke 6:27-29 ?Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.? Luke 6:36 ?Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.? Luke 6:37 Elsewhere, it is said, "Then Peter came and said to Him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'" Matthew 18:21-22 Jesus asked for God's forgiveness of those who crucified him. "And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'" Luke 23: 34 In his time, Jesus created controversy among the Pharisees, when he told people their sins were forgiven. "The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, 'Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?'" Luke 5:21 The Christian statement on forgiveness is best demonstrated in the Gospel message itself, that God the Father, chose to forgive mankind not for their own merit, but by unmerited favor. Unlike other religions, a Christian's forgiveness is given because of Christ's sacrifice, and cannot be deserved by any works done by the believer. Out of the basis of this forgiveness, believers are motivated to forgive all debts without compensation, because of their debt that Christ forgave at His own expense. Islam Islam teaches that God (Allah) is 'The Most Forgiving', and is the original source of all forgiveness. Forgiveness often requires the repentance of those being forgiven. Depending on the type of wrong committed, forgiveness can come either directly from Allah, or from one's fellow man who received the wrong. In the case of divine forgiveness, the asking for divine forgiveness by repentance is important. In the case of human forgiveness, it is important to both forgive, and to be forgiven. Allah does not forgive idol worship (if maintained until death), and He forgives lesser offenses for whomever He wills. Anyone who idolizes any idol beside Allah has strayed far astray. (Qur'an 4:116) But if he returns to Allah and pleads sincerely for forgiveness and abandons worshiping other than the one and only God, He will be forgiven. The Qur'an never allows for violent behavior on the part of Muslim believers, except in the cases of defending one's religion, one's life, or one's property. Outside of this, the Qur'an makes no allowances for violent behavior. From time to time certain Muslims have interpreted such Qur'anic allowances for defensive violence, to include what other Muslims have viewed more as unwarranted and overly aggressive violence. This interpretative debate about when to forgive and when to aggressively attack or defend continues to this day within the Muslim community. The Qur'an makes it clear that, whenever possible, it is better to forgive another than to attack another. The Qur'an describes the believers (Muslims) as those who, avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive. (Qur'an 42:37) and says that. Although the just compensation for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by Allah. He