Forgiveness versus Hate

A testament to a communally owned ethic of forgiveness.

It is common for the Amish to invite car drivers who have killed one of their community members to the funeral. Such a compassionate response reveals a belief that each individual is responsible to counter violence by expressing comfort - a sort of prayer in action.

Of course, it's not to say that people do not struggle in that set of communities with the practical inner work involved in forgiving, but at least they have a community that values what they try to do and offers the support and tools to do it. Our society is retributive and so the tools and encouragement to do the inner work of forgiving is largely not around. This translates to the militarisation of our international relations. Because we do not value peacemaking we do not become skilled in it. We do not have the background to know how to think about doing it or the commitment to do the things that need doing in between times of overt conflict.

The biggest fault of the Just war theory is to sap the energy and resources to build reconciliatory lifestyles and politics. Arguably.

The Left Coaster: Forgiveness versus Hate:
Filed in: forgiveness, Amish, prayer