In traditional Christianity, forgiveness represents the active willingness to overlook a sin, thus confirming the sin’s reality. Unforgiven sins led to eternal damnation so the forgiveness stakes were high! In A Course in Miracles, forgiveness is a way of perceiving the world and our brothers and sisters that does not see sin but rather errors that can be corrected. This understanding emphasizes the unconditional nature of our brother’s holiness, which can be obscured but not destroyed. The Holy Spirit is our guide in forgiveness, just as ego is our guide in condemnation and suffering. Seeing holiness in another, regardless of error, is a form of love. And because ideas cannot be separate from their source, this holiness is not other than our very own. In this way, forgiveness reveals the underlying relationship – our shared interests – upon which salvation rests.
Related Posts: Light on Forgiveness, A Practice of Forgiveness, Notes on Forgiveness, Forgiveness with a lower-case f, Forgiveness is Healed Perception