ABSTRACT
Religions that specify self-awareness or insight as a major aspect of forgiveness, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, bear witness to one route people's discover in the consulting room. The teachings of monotheistic religions have a relational aspect. The forgiveness of sins is a prominent feature of Christian theology with connections made between God's forgiveness and the forgiveness of others. The idea of forgiveness as 'good' is implicit in much of the literature reviewed so far. Psychoanalytical theorists view the capacity for forgiveness as positive, emotionally mature and healthy. Much non-psychoanalytical writing also privileges forgiveness. Forgiveness cannot be an aim of psychoanalytic practice. An important strand in the trauma literature emphasizes that demands for the victim to forgive can be entirely unjust. In a political context, forgiveness is acclaimed as an important ingredient in the recovery of individuals and societies that have suffered deeply.
