Prisoners and Forgiveness
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In my work as a prison chaplain, I ask prisoners how they feel and think about the subject of forgiveness. The group-work I do with them gives an inside look into their beliefs and interest in the subject. The main subjects in the group meetings are the definition of forgiveness, the feelings connected to forgiveness, and their own need for forgiveness or their need to forgive others. The meaning of ‘self-forgiveness’ seems to be especially important to the participants. The participants are different in many ways, including age, crime, relationships, and detention time. The results of the series of five meetings about forgiveness are that the participants are thinking about their own responsibility, their own guilt, and that they start thinking about the possibilities and boundaries of forgiveness in their personal situation. Many feel like talking further after we end the series of meetings.