The Lived Experience of Forgiveness: Phenomenological and Psychological Perspectives remedies the absence of systematic research on the experience of forgiveness by bringing together the work of five psychologists, one philosopher, and one theologian. The contributors have researched various aspects of forgiveness through interviews and field work, allowing for a clarification of this topic and providing a basis for evaluating the often-contradictory assertions of the existing literature. Edited by Steen Halling, this volume demonstrates the value of careful study of human experience by examining forgiveness in its various manifestations within a phenomenological framework that strives to set aside and question presuppositions-whether they be religious, philosophical, or psychological-and look at phenomena with fresh eyes. This approach enables a more creative and productive dialogue among the disciplines of psychology, theology, and philosophy, with experience as a common reference point, and thereby leads to a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of forgiveness.
Steen Halling is professor emeritus of psychology at Seattle University and a licensed psychologist.
Introduction by Steen Halling Part 1: Forgiving the Other Chapter 1: Shame, Vulnerability, and the Journey to Forgiveness by Milo Milburn Chapter 2: Transformative Forgiveness: The Lived Experience of Forgiving the Unforgivable by Gabriela Mihalache Chapter 3: 'Moving on': Wrestling with Forgiveness in Post-genocide Rwanda by Anne Kubai Chapter 4: Forgiving and Transcendence: On the Importance of Phenomenological Inquiry by Steen Halling Part 2: Self-Forgiveness and Self-Acceptance Chapter 5: Self-Forgiveness: The Misunderstood and Elusive Phenomena by Steen Halling Chapter 6: The Lived Experience of Self-forgiveness in Psychotherapy by Irene Bowman Part 3: Dialogue with Philosophy through Experience Chapter 7: Phenomenology of Forgiveness in Education by Peter Costello Chapter 8: Suffering through Pain to Passage: Forgiving our Mothers and Ourselves by Claire LeBeau Conclusion by Steen Halling
This book is an important, timely, and unique contribution to the understanding of forgiveness. The authors of this collection follow a phenomenological approach to human science research, enabling them to disclose forgiveness as an existential phenomenon. It will be of interest to a wide range of scholars and a must read for any psychologist. -- Magnus Englander, Malmoe University
