1st Edition
Forgiveness and Reconciliation Initiating Individuation and Enabling Liberation
This book details a five-phase model of the process of forgiveness and reconciliation, exploring how it can be understood as a threshold experience with the potential to offer profound emotional renewal.
Illustrated with numerous case study vignettes, the book presents the findings of a research study gathered from observing and interviewing 50 dying persons, investigating the preconditions for forgiveness and reconciliation, and examining how a sense of grace, freedom, peace, and deep connectedness may occur. The book also contextualizes reconciliation and forgiveness as cultural phenomena extending beyond purely behavioral patterns of cooperation and involving great emotional maturity and strength of personality.
Centered on humility, self-knowledge, truth-finding, and consciousness, Forgiveness and Reconciliation is important reading for practitioners, scholars and students in the fields of counselling, psychotherapy, and palliative care and to all those interested supporting people in conflict situations in the middle of their lives or in working with dying persons.
Biography
Monika Renz is a psychotherapist, music therapist, and spiritual caregiver. She leads the psycho-oncology unit at a clinic of oncology/hematology (Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, Switzerland). She holds a Ph.D. in psychopathology and in theology/spirituality and is an internationally sought speaker and author of several books. Her research focuses on dying, spirituality, forgiveness, fear.
'A very important book, based on a very important and impressing research project. Highly recommended.'
Pim van Lommel, cardiologist, NDE-researcher, author of Consciousness Beyond Life'Forgiveness and Reconciliation is a profound and at times deeply moving reflection and study of these key spiritual themes. The author shows how in our capacity as relational beings these processes are catalysed by the imminence of death and how we are affected by unresolved issues and estranged relationships. Based on her research, she formulates a five-stage model, illustrating these phases with intense personal stories that give rise to significant reflections in the reader as we consider how such situations are reflected in our own lives and relationships. At a time of deep divisions this book conveys an essential message of hope and encouragement to engage in our own challenges of forgiveness and reconciliation – and achieve a measure of inner peace in the process.'
David Lorimer, Programme Director, Editor, Paradigm Explorer
