Ask Dr. Forgiveness
What is a major stumbling block in my suggesting forgiveness education at my local private school?
Is it possible that the more a person forgives, then the more human that person becomes?
What is your opinion of family members who keep saying, “You should forgive the person for what was done”?
Does it take a long time to forgive someone?
The length of time will vary depending on how experienced a person is with the practice of forgiveness, how deeply the person was hurt, who hurt the person, whether or not the other person is still being hurtful, and whether or not the other has apologized and seems sincere in that. Even if you are faced with the situation in which you have not practiced forgiveness much, you are deeply hurt, by someone who is supposed to love you, with on-going injustice and no apology, it still is possible to forgive. It may take six months; it may take a year. Yet, you likely will sense the progress being made (reduced anger, a confidence in the process, as examples). So, do not think about forgiveness as “all or nothing.” In other words, you will not need a year before you start to feel some psychological relief. The positive changes can be rewarding and increase your motivation to keep on the forgiveness path.
Is it wrong to get angry with God when reacting to other people’s injustice? I feel that such a reaction is natural.
Even though it may seem natural to you, your getting angry with God (over injustices which you experience from people) is not good theology. If God is all holy and sinless, then your forgiving God implies wrongdoing. I prefer keeping a sound theology and understanding that God allows for the free-will actions of people, even if those actions are unjust. People are the ones who behave badly, not God. Rather than forgiving God, I suggest that you try to practice acceptance of what is allowed and then to forgive persons. In this way, you do not diminish the attributes of God.
