Forgiving: How and Why

Our sense of “being” is grounded in healthy self-esteem and satisfaction with our lives. These can be burdened by feeling wounded with hidden grief and mourning. Today’s uncertainty and anxiety make it even more difficult for us to engage in self-care, and to frame our understanding of self-care as something positive and healthy. In overcoming this difficulty, the practice of forgiving can assume an essential role. This class, "Forgiving: How and Why," is an opportunity for participants to reflect on what it means to practice forgiveness and to be empowered by the process of forgiving.

In an atmosphere of collegiality and confidentiality, participants will be invited to deeply think through forgiveness and how it impacts our lives. Readings, discussions, and assignments will offer specific tools to explore the practice of forgiveness.

This class will explore writings from:

• Howard Thurman, philosopher and theologian, on the roles of fear, deception, hatred, and love
• Richard Mollica of the Harvard Medical School on the role of forgiveness in overcoming trauma
• Archbishop Desmond Tutu on the fourfold path to forgiveness based on his experiences in South Africa

The learning journey and goals of this course are:

• to reflect deeply about the meaning and process of forgiving
• to identify practical tools that assist us in our efforts to engage in forgiving
• to explore some of the wider social implications of what it means to forgive
• to equip the participants with a framework about forgiving that they can use in helping others interested in this topic

Class dates and times are:

• Sunday, November 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Sunday, November 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

All classes will be held on Zoom.

Rev. Dr. Don Chatfield is the Lead Pastor at All Souls Interfaith Gathering. He formerly served as the Executive Director of the Osage Forest of Peace and as spiritual leader of La Cholla Center for Integrative Spirituality. An interfaith minister, he has been ordained for 45 years and has served spiritual communities across the U.S. This class is based on Pastor Don's Summer Study at Yale Divinity School in June 2022 with gratitude to his professor, Rev. Dr. Jerry Streets.