Repentance by Maimonides
Western forgiveness intervention models (e.g., Worthington, Enright) are clearly ‘victim’ focused. Researches have found that unforgiving victims tend to suffer from maladies such as depression, heart issues, depression, etc. So intervention models were designed to bring some healing to the victim by cognitive therapy so that they can unilaterally ‘forgive’ the perpetrator. Facilitators have observed and published significant successes in victim healing. My problem with this approach is not that they are unsuccessful in what they attempt to accomplish. They appear to be quite helpful in facilitating some healing of specifically the victim– measurably so. My problem is that for the most part, the offender and the larger community are– for the most part, ignored. These models are highly individualistic and utilitarian.
In contrast, modern Jewish intervention models are ‘offender’ driven; emphasizing the offender’s “teshuvah” (i.e., the ‘process of return’). For forgiveness and reconciliation to take place, the offender must become worthy of forgiveness by means of apology, remorse, and restitution (if appropriate) before God and mankind. Per the respected writings on the topic by the 12th ct Rabbi Maimonides (Mishneh Torah), appropriate offender teshuvah must include (a) Acknowledgement that one has done something wrong, (b) Public confession of one’s wrongdoing to both God and the community, (c) Public expression of remorse, (d) [Public announcement of] the offender’s resolve not to sin in this way again, (e) Compensation of the victim for the injury inflicted accompanied by acts of charity to others, (f) Sincere request of forgiveness by the victim, (g) Avoidance of the conditions that caused the offense, and (h) Acting differently when confronted with the same situation.
Very interesting. Without at all discounting the healing successes of the western victim-focussed intervention models, I wonder if they are missing much of the healing value– and for that matter, the community building value to both the victim and the perpetrator that would be part of a broader forgiveness intervention model. What do you think?