Explain some of the main beliefs that Christians have about Forgiveness/ Reconciliation and Justice.

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RE COURSEWORK 1

JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION

Kerry Teesdale

Christ the King Catholic High School

RE COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT 1

JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION

Skill AO1- knowledge about beliefs

Explain some of the main beliefs that Christians have about Forgiveness/ Reconciliation and Justice

In Christianity there is a lot of emphasis on forgiveness, however this does not rule out the teaching of justice.

Justice can be defined as different situations which are handled or solved in a morally right or fair way. It is also the quality of being reasonable.

Forgiveness can be defined as the power to forget someone’s sin and to stop being angry with a person who has done wrong.

The belief of Christianity is that we can all forgive one-another as God forgives all our sins (by reconciliation). Jesus’ death was an extremely relevant lesson of forgiveness. “Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doing” said by Jesus moments before dying. This gives an example of how we can forgive, if Jesus forgave the Romans for mocking and humiliating him and most importantly for nailing him to the cross.

There are two separate teachings of the bible, each come from the New Testament and the other from the Old Testament. The Old Testament teaches “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. However the New Testament teaches “turn the other cheek, forgive your enemy”.

In the New Testament Jesus teaches people about forgiveness using parables such as the Woman caught in Adultery, The Unmerciful Servant and possibly the most important parable of forgiveness: The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

The basis of the parable of the Prodigal Son is a man who had two sons- the younger one asked his father for his inheritance early. He used his money to travel far away and spent all his money. He came back to his father in desperation and hunger not expecting forgiveness from his father or to even be worthy of being called his son. However he was greeted most warmly and with open arms and unexpectedly forgiveness. A great feast and party took place. The elder son became angry and jealous of the son being so easily forgiven for his sins.

There are a few messages given out from this parable, which can be shown in everyday situations whereby people sin and are forgiven. The older son represents the Pharisees. They resent people who are not as good as themselves. The younger son represents us. This corresponds to the continual cycle of sins committed and forgiven everyday.

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By the sinner expressing sorrow at their own sinfulness as the younger son does, the response of the father (who symbolises God) is to welcome his returning son home without any reservations. Even when Jesus himself was being crucified he said "father forgive them for they do not know what they do." This shows that whatever the circumstances God is ready to forgive and show compassion.

There is a belief around Christians that if God can forgive then we can therefore forgive one another. Jesus’ death on the cross made the basis of people believing in forgiveness of ...

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