Secularism cannot cope with being wrong. Part 2

Secularism cannot cope with being wrong

Part 2: The importance of forgiveness

Everybody makes mistakes; it is an inevitable part of the human condition. When we do make mistakes, it’s vital that we acknowledge it, say sorry, and make amends as best we can. However, it is not always possible to do this, and even when we can, it is likely that the wound we inflicted on ourselves through doing what we now recognise (and perhaps knew at the time) to be wrong cannot be fully healed by any secular ideological process. If the person we harmed forgives us, and we make full reconciliation, that will have a very powerful effect, and may be sufficient. However, it may not, because it cannot erase the reality that we were in the wrong, and that is a difficult thing to face up to. As I say, it may also be the case that we are not able to apologise and make amends, or, if we do, perhaps that will not be acceptable to the person we wronged, and they maintain a grudge against us.

In contrast, the religious believer is able to take their sorrow to God (as well as making amends to the person they wronged). In their faith, they are able to believe that God does forgive them, make them whole, and is at work to heal, make whole and bless the person who was wronged. It is their faith that God has sufficient power to overcome any evil, and that he can redeem, restore and put right any situation and any relationship. Thus religion has the ability to offer complete forgiveness for our mistakes, in a way in which secular ideology is simply incapable of matching.