Should I forgive? 6:30-8:30

October 20, 27 

Catalogue Description: 

"To err is human, to forgive divine." Really? Have you ever had trouble forgiving someone? When and how should you forgive? Are there any situations in which you should not forgive? We will discuss the dynamics of forgiveness by looking at Simon Wiesenthal's book, The Sunflower. Wiesenthal, the famed, "Nazi hunter," tells of his experiences in a concentration camp and a time when he was asked for forgiveness by a dying SS soldier. Over the decades since its initial publication, more and more responses have been added to the book by thinkers such as the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, and fellow holocaust survivors talking about whether Simon should have forgiven the soldier. From the global to the intimately personal, we will look closely at the what, when and how of forgiveness. You are encouraged to read the book prior to our class.

We are all faced with the challenge of forgiveness. In this course, we will explore the definition and the consequences of forgiveness. In particular, I am interested in looking at the possibility that sometimes the choice of to forgive or not to forgive may not be the only possible options, and could even be a choice the victimizes the victim yet again. If you have thoughts on this question, let me know by e mail, or begin a discussion on the article discussion page.