Healing Agony: Re-Imagining Forgiveness

Description

Stephen Cherry's Michael Ramsey Prize shortlisted Healing Agony argues that one of the most profound challenges a human being can ever face is how to forgive in the aftermath of injury, hurt or violation. This book explores the theology of forgiveness alongside a number of contemporary forgiveness stories in order to glean insights for those facing just this challenge. While God's forgiveness is revealed to be a simpler matter than is sometimes imagined, forgiveness between human beings is shown to be far more difficult, enigmatic and open-ended. This book offers a map of the rugged terrain that victims of serious harm, or those who seek to accompany them, will need to navigate if they embark on the venture of trust we call forgiveness. A Group Study guide for this title is available at http://religion.cherry.continuumbooks.com

Stephen Cherry is Director of Ministerial Development and Parish Support for Durham diocese, a Residentiary Canon of Durham Cathedral and a former Chaplain of King's College, Cambridge, UK. He is the author of Barefoot Disciple, the Archbishop of Canterbury's 2011 Lent Book.

Healing Agony is a searching analysis of forgiveness challenging simplistic assumptions and asks questions to which there are no easy answers. Stephen Cherry is unafraid to confront the complexities of one of the great issues of our time. -- The Rt Revd the Lord Eames OM, former Archbishop of Armagh * Pre-publication * This fascinating book holds together a Christian hope in the ultimate possibility of forgiveness, even when faced with the deepest wounds, combined with an honest and realistic understanding of the complexity of the venture, as one tries to become, slowly, a forgiving person. -- Timothy Radcliffe OP * Pre-publication * There is something mysterious and deeply rewarding about reading a book which perfectly and beautifully sums up an internal dialogue that you've been having with yourself for years. I've been exposed to many theories and analyses on the meaning of forgiveness, but nothing has been presented to me with such clarity and eloquence as Healing Agony.This book is a welcome antidote to a growing movement which promotes forgiveness as a panacea for all ills and thus creates a social and moral imperative around something that is deeply personal, always different, and which should be free of obligation and guilt. It is about the best book I've read on this complicated subject. -- Marina Cantacuzino, Founder and Director of The Forgiveness Project * Pre-publication * This is a very important book on a very important subject - forgiveness. * REFORM Magazine, September 2012 *