Forgiveness is a lovely idea, wrote C. S. Lewis, and in recent decades it has been seen and admired in situations ranging from therapy to politics, and proposed as a constructive pathway in the aftermath of abuse and atrocity. Not everyone is impressed, however, and in parallel with praise and promotion of forgiveness, cries of 'unforgivable' are uttered with increased shrillness and frequency.

In this hugely compelling, wide-ranging, and thought-provoking book, Stephen Cherry argues that while forgiveness can be transformative in the aftermath of harm, it can also, if not handled with care, become an additional pressure and anxiety for those who have been harmed. He teases out the way in which Christian understandings often lie behind pressure to forgive, identifying a number of typical mistakes with the Christian approach to forgiveness.

Reflecting on many examples from real life as well as literature, and on the insights of psychologists and philosophers, Cherry uses the tension between the desire to forgive and the protest that a person is unforgivable to push towards understandings of forgiveness that avoid the harshness of binary models. Forgiveness is not, he insists, the only good way forward after harm. A positive understanding of non-vengeful unforgiveness is vital if the harmed are to be given the care and support they need and deserve, and if forgiveness itself is to be authentic and liberating.

Cherry's challenging book brims with energy and blends human insight with intellectual vision. It argues that if forgiveness is to play a part in the aftermath of harm without inflicting further harm it must be presented in a non-idealized way and only following acknowledgement of the depth of the human impact of the harm done.

About the Author

Dr Stephen Cherry is the Dean of King's College, Cambridge and is well known for presiding over the annual broadcast carol services from King's College Chapel enjoyed by millions around the world. He is the author of Barefoot Disciple (2010), Healing Agony (2012), The Dark Side of the Soul (2016) and Thy Will Be Done (2020).

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Established in 2009 SpeedyHen has built up a reputation for its quick, reliable service. We strive to ensure that our products are competitively priced and available to you from stock. All of our orders are dispatched via trackable services for piece of mind. Our dedication to customer service has helped to establish SpeedyHen as one of the market leaders in online book & physical music retailing. Please take a look at our huge range. Help is available from our polite customer service team for any questions you may have.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

TBC

Shipping Terms

All orders are dispatched within 2 business days via a trackable service.

All tracking numbers are uploaded when the order has been dispatched.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	7 to 10 business days	5 to 8 business days
First item	US$ 0.00	US$ 30.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.