Christmas: The Beauty and Challenge of Forgiveness

Rembrandt - Adoration of the Magi

Forgiveness is an incredibly idiosyncratic phenomenon. It is called both a science and an art. It relates to psychology, philosophy and religion. It formed one of the central themes of one of the most famous artists, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. And, as a key aspect of redemption, forgiveness is central to the Christmas celebration. For both Christians and atheists the subjects of Christmas redemption and forgiveness offer unique challenges and opportunities. As we peer into this subject we can ask, "What does the phenomenon of forgiveness tell us about the nature of the universe?"
At the beginning of the 21st Century, 'the new science of forgiveness' offered test results showing how the process of forgiveness leads to significant mental, physical and spiritual benefits to individuals, communities and nations. In the process of what is called forgiveness intervention, "Sincere apologies helped people forgive and calm down. Getting fair restitution on top of an apology magnified the effect. Insincere or incomplete apologies actually riled people up more."[1] Roy Lloyd, the president at International Forgiveness Institute, remarked that, "Forgiveness education as one path toward peace is catching on worldwide, as seen in the recent requests for our educational materials from educators and psychologists in such areas as Iran, Rwanda, Colombia, Nigeria, Korea, and others."[2]

Forgiveness is both a science and an art.

Many have outlined reasons why forgiveness may be considered both a science and an art. Though there is some overlap, the difference between science and art and is based on the emphasis on objective and subjective phenomena. Science places an emphasis on objectively explaining materialistic phenomena. Art places an emphasis on the significance of beauty, philosophical meaning and subjective impressions. What a person believes about forgiveness is based to a large degree on a person's philosophical beliefs. Traditionally, the subject of forgiveness has been associated strictly with religion. Psychologist Fred Luskin, director of Stanford University's Forgiveness Projects, echoes the dismay of many secular psychologists who increasingly recognize the scientific significance of forgiveness, "Who would have 'thunk' it - that something locked away in religious culture could be turned into a secular training program - It's a skill that can be taught."[3]


Forgiveness offers scientifically proven benefits.

Return of the Prodigal Son

Put bluntly, forgiveness works. Science shows we need to forgive in order to be healthy. This also implies the opposite: we need to be forgiven to be healthy. "While much of the field's early work has focused on forgiveness of others, academic psychologists and clinicians are turning up evidence that forgiving oneself might have a more powerful effect on overall health and well-being."[4]  In forgiving yourself you are also being forgiven. It seems it may have twice the impact because it addresses both sides of the issue; forgiving and being forgiven. In August 2011, researchers affirmed the serious negative health effects of bitterness calling for a new diagnosis named PTED, or post-traumatic embitterment disorder.[5] With regard to bitterness, Dr. Charles Raison of Emory University has stated, "The data that negative mental states cause heart problems is just stupendous. The data is just as established as smoking, and the size of the effect is the same."[6]

Unconditional forgiveness meshes well with the Christ-centered creation paradigm.

Now, getting back to the Christmas theme, consider some key aspects of forgiveness. Scientific studies have confirmed that "making a gesture of goodness" to a wrongdoer is one of the most important aspects in the process of forgiveness.[7] The giving of a proactive 'gesture of goodness' is one of the central themes of the Christmas message. A summary of the Christmas message, as offered in  Luke 2.14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." This gesture of "good will" that God has offered to mankind was essentially the spiritual redemption attained through Jesus Christ. This act was not a legal obligation but a living attribution of God's nature, for "God is love."[8] Spiritual redemption is the central theme of scripture, and forgiveness is the central theme of spiritual redemption. From a biblical perspective, grace and forgiveness have a spiritual source. The apostle Peter implied that the angels were filled with a sense of wonder at the beauty of God's grace given through Christ  Christmas morning. In 1 Peter 1.12, while referring to the gospel, Peter wrote, " Even angels long to look into these things." Throughout the New Testament accounts, there is an emphasis to forgive others unconditionally. Christ's examples were always pro-active, not passive, exemplifying God's superabundant grace. In Ephesians 4.26 we are advised to forgive immediately, "Don't let the sun go down on your anger." God's forgiveness is unconditional in that we don't work for it, but we do have to repent and confess our sins by faith in order to receive it.

Rembrandt as the prodigal

Rembrandt produced several works of art depicting the beauty of God's forgiveness. The Return of the Prodigal Son (from Luke 15:11-32) is Rembrandt's most famous version, and is located in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg Russia. In another version, The Prodigal Son in the Brothel, Rembrandt depicted himself as the prodigal and his wife as a bar maid. When taken together in the context of Rembrandt's work and writings, it seems that Rembrandt recognized he and his wife, and all people, are sinners in need of God's grace, as outlined by the late Arthur L. Farstad in his article, Grace in the Arts.[9]

The essence of salvation by faith and grace is the understanding that we receive a complete cleansing and moral restitution not because we deserve it, can earn it or can repay it, but simply by God's unmerited favor. According to the scientific studies, this compete moral forgiveness and restitution represents the best of all possible worlds.  In a very real and practical sense, the day that Christ was born on Earth was the beginning of The First Global Christmas Forgiveness Intervention Session.

Unconditional forgiveness does not mesh well with atheism and the evolutionary paradigm.

According to many naturalist theorists, vengeance and forgiveness are natural instincts that are both desirable and morally valid in everyday life today:

"Because we are cultural learners, we can learn valuable lessons about where and when to seek revenge, and about where and when to forgive, simply by observing our parents, siblings, friends, associates, teachers, and mentors."[10]

This view is not strange or a fringe view, but the 'eye for an eye' concept of justice has been shared by most cultures in history. No other teacher prior to Jesus of Nazareth taught unconditional forgiveness as a moral ideal. And science is confirming that his teaching is the healthiest and the most desirable. Buddhism teaches 'detachment' but not the proactive 'good will' act of 'loving your enemies' in the sense Jesus taught it. We as Christians are free to love unconditionally because we understand God will judge righteously in the final analysis and it is not up to us to make sure justice will be enforced on this Earth. For the Buddhist the concept of eternal justice is ultimately a non-issue. But we as humans do have a sense that the question of justice is important one and not a philosophical concept that deserves to be ignored.

If vengeance and forgiveness are both desirable and valid today, as theorists claim, then why do they offer opposing health effects? The forgiveness instinct supposedly developed due to "complex networks of cooperative relationships", but, according to a 10 year study in Uganda, primates generally only socialize with their own immediate families. And the typical relationship between two different chimp groups is called, "lethal inter-group aggression" - not exactly a community fostering goodwill and deep-rooted forgiveness instincts.[11] The same study concluded that the ability to cooperate with strangers is a defining human trait.

According the evolutionary paradigm, we should remember every wrong ever committed against us so that we can avoid the same circumstances again in the future. But this is not how we are wired. We are created so that the healthiest approach to life is to unconditionally forgive and forget when we are wronged. This does not mean a person should stay in a relationship that is continuously abusive physically. There is a difference between forgiveness and permissiveness. This simply implies it is healthiest not to hold grudges and retain bitterness.

This is a challenge I would like to respectfully ask any atheist to answer, "Why should non-forgiveness produce extremely negative patterns and unhealthy stress when simply 'keeping a record of wrongs' has, in keeping with evolutionary theory, a utilitarian function of avoiding future pain and harm?" I'll offer an illustration. If I knew someone who decided to become my enemy, for whatever reason, and harmed me intentionally and frequently, would it not be in my best interest, from a strictly Darwinian perspective, to 'keep accounts' and try to harm this person back? Darwinism seems to operate based on the logic of the old law, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' Jesus, however, reverses this old law and admonished us to forgive our enemies and actually to demonstrate good will towards them, exactly what psychologists say is the most healthy approach.

Personhood and God's nature

Philosophers who study ethics recognize that the subjects of ethics and personhood are interconnected. For example, atheists may treat an unborn child or an elderly person quite differently than a person who believes in the universal sanctity of human life. Though male-dominated research programs tend to deny that Post Abortion Stress Syndrome is real, women in politically neutral organizations tend to propose it is a very real condition.[12] One of the healthy choices of addressing post-abortion denial and depression is to take time to grieve the loss of the child in order to allow for psychological closure. Many women choose to name the aborted child in this process for a more tangible sense of closure.[13]

Rembrandt's eyes

The fact that forgiveness is such a powerful phenomenon  reveals an idiosyncrasy of our universe that did not have to exist in this way at all. The universe has distinct characteristics and an open-mined person can see that these characteristics are in keeping with the creation paradigm. An example would be the manner in which an artists personality is manifested in his or her artwork. Over the years researchers have come to be able to decide which paintings are official Rembrandt originals and which were painted by his students because of key techniques and details. Firstly, Rembrandt had mastered the use of light in creating a sense of space. In an authentic Rembrandt, "The light is typically Rembrandt in that it is so totally convincing: you perceive it as if you are looking at reality and not at a painting,"[14] Secondly, Rembrandt had developed a technique for highlighting the faces and eyes of his subjects in order to draw the attention of the viewer into the emotional states of his painted scenarios. Thus, the paintings of this Dutch master encourage a unique emotional connection. These are just two examples of how Rembrandt's own brush stroke can be detected in his created works.

As with Rembrandt's personal technique in his paintings, the Creator's signature of grace is embedded in the workings of human relationships. Unconditional forgiveness isn't true because it's healthy, it's healthy because it's true and meshes perfectly with God's nature and the redemption paradigm. God is the ultimate reference point of truth, and because "God is love," living in harmony with the principles of the universe entails living in harmony with God's nature and character. God's existence and His nature make up the central fact, not the attributes of forgiveness. Other studies have shown that giving thanks offers dramatic health benefits,[15] as does living a life of regular religious worship.[16] Like unconditional forgiveness, neither of these other two practices has any rational or objective basis in an evolutionary or atheistic paradigm. But they make complete sense in a God-centered, creation paradigm.

Basic outline: How the Science of Forgiveness Proves God's Existence

P1 - Practicing unconditional forgiveness offers notable health benefits according to empirical tests.
P2 - Practicing unconditional forgiveness meshes well with a Christ-centered paradigm.
P3 - Practicing unconditional forgiveness does not mesh well with atheism and the evolutionary paradigm.
C - Therefore, Theism offers a better explanation for the notable health benefits of practicing unconditional forgiveness.

P1. Evolutionists claim 'survival qualities' become developed in the 'healthier physiology' of animals that survive.
P2. 'Remembering wrongs' would be a 'survival quality' that offers a great advantage.
C. Therefore, 'remembering wrongs' should be directly associated with a 'healthy physiology.'

P1. According to evolution, 'remembering wrongs' should be directly associated with a 'healthy physiology.'
P2. 'Remembering wrongs' is associated with an unhealthy physiology.
C. Therefore, evolutionary theory is incorrect with regard to 'remembering wrongs.'

P1. Evolutionists claim that vengeance and forgiveness are both equally valid cultural traits.
P2. Vengeance and forgiveness produce opposite physiological health results.
C. Therefore, evolutionists are mistaken with regard to the validity of vengeance and forgiveness.

P1. Christ claimed that a lifestyle of unconditional forgiveness is a central moral ideal.
P2. A lifestyle of unconditional forgiveness produces the best noted health results.
C. Therefore, the Christian moral ideal and paradigm is in keeping with the best health results.

P1. A paradigm based on true premises produces healthier results than a  paradigm based on false ones.
P2. The Christian paradigm is in keeping with the best health results.
C. Therefore, the Christian paradigm is most likely based on truth. 

Clarifying evolutionary theory

According to the understanding of the 'survival of the fittest' theory,  certain creatures continue on to develop and improve while others do not.  Th 'reasons' for survival are generally attributed to  'genetic mutations' that have given some type of survival advantage to the survivors. Ironically, 'mutations' are seen as a 'healthy' development in evolution. And behavior changes and instincts are to provide such advantages as well. In considering evolution, one must draw a distinction between the development of 'healthy physiology' and brute survival. One must also acknowledge that evolutionary theory does not relate only to physical genes, but psychological functions of the mind: "Evolutionary psychologists argue that much of human behavior is the output of psychological adaptations that evolved to solve recurrent problems in human ancestral environments."[17]

Authenticity, harmony and beauty

When a logical proof has a valid form and true premises, we can assume that the conclusion is true. There is harmony between the premises, the form and the conclusion. There are many clues in creation to demonstrate the harmony between nature, the human condition and God's existence. Ecclesiastes 3.11 states, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (NIV)

Artists express the truth of human personhood through the 'pathos' of artistic expression. Rembrandt expressed the truth and beauty of forgiveness and his artwork is very encouraging for this reason. It is believed that Rembrandt was an authentic Christian believer for a number of reasons. Arthur L. Farstad has noted, "....Reformed churches did not give commissions. Hence, a Dutch artist who did religious paintings did so because he wanted to."[18] Secondly, Rembrandt displayed Christ as the humble servant described in Isaiah 53, a chapter that emphasizes God's grace. Thirdly, his portrayal of Mary was humble, not idolatrous, and so it was in keeping with the biblical description of Christ's mother. These points underscore that Rembrandt was a sincere believer in touch with the grace of God. Perhaps this is why his painting, The Adoration of the Magi, is considered perhaps the best rendition of Christ's birth and reception. Both scientists and artists alike have confirmed that the birth of Christ nearly 2000 years ago ushered in The First Global Christmas Forgiveness Intervention Session. For the Christian, the challenge is to forgive others immediately, before the sun goes down. And the challenge is also share the good news of the gospel as a central aspect of our lives, though this should be seen not merely as a challenge but as a great opportunity and privilege. For the atheist the challenge is to explain why the phenomenon of forgiveness operates the way in which it does, underscoring the reality of God's grace as a signature in the human condition.

In Simferopol, we had an enjoyable Christmas celebration and discussed this theme as well as others. The greatest gift of all is to experience the beauty of God's grace and presence together. In giving gifts we are reminded of Christ's act of good will in giving His life in atonement for our sins. When Christ is in the center and we are abiding in Christ's presence, there's a peace-centered life. Imagine leaders from Iran and Israel meeting not to exchange words of hatred and threats of nuclear war, but simply to share communion in an an atmosphere of peace and joy. The magi mentioned in Matthew 2.1 at the time of Christ's coming were wise men from "the East," referring most likely to Persia, or modern-day Iran.[19]

(article revised February 7, 2012) 

References

[1]  Greater Good, Berkeley, The New Science of Forgiveness,
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_new_science_of_forgiveness/
[2]  Huffington Post, The Science of Forgiveness, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-lloyd/the-science-of-forgivenes_b_613138.html
[3] LA Times, Forgive and be well? http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/31/health/he-forgiveness31
[4] LJ World, The science of forgiveness, http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jan/06/science_forgiveness/
[5] CNN, Blaming others can ruin your health, http://edition.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/17/bitter.resentful.ep/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
[6] Ibid.
[7] LJ World, The science of forgiveness, http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jan/06/science_forgiveness/
[8] 1 John 4.6-17, God is love - love comes from God, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204&version=NIV
[9] Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Grace in the Arts: REMBRANDT VAN RYN:
A PROTESTANT ARTIST, http://www.faithalone.org/journal/1993i/Farstad.htm
[10] Greater Good, The Forgiveness Instinct, http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/forgiveness_instinct/
[11] Buffalo News, Ability to cooperate with strangers is defining human trait, http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/viewpoints/article650199.ece
[12] After Abortion, Symptoms and Frequently Asked Questions About Post Abortion Stress Syndrome
http://www.afterabortion.com/faq.html
[13] Ibid, webpage - Recognizing the loss of your potential baby
[14] MSNBC, Experts reclassify painting as real Rembrandt, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45526070/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/experts-reclassify-painting-real-rembrandt/#.TvlRKoG2tA8
[15] Templestream, The Health and Logic of a Thankful Lifestyle, http://templestream.blogspot.com/2011/11/health-and-logic-of-being-thankful.html
[16] Templestream, Gallup Polls Highlight Happiness, Health and Logic in Spirituality , http://templestream.blogspot.com/2010/12/gallup-polls-highlight-happiness-health.html
[17] Psychologybd, EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY, http://www.psychologybd.com/Evolutionary%20Psychology.html
[18] Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Grace in the Arts: REMBRANDT VAN RYN:
A PROTESTANT ARTIST, http://www.faithalone.org/journal/1993i/Farstad.htm
[19] Got Questions, What does the Bible say about the three wise men (Magi)?, http://www.gotquestions.org/three-wise-men.html

Images:

Rembrandt images are public domain.
Photo of Simferopol Christmas celebration - Victor Goldobin

Search Terms

The science and art of forgiveness
Forgiveness as proof of God's existence
Forgiveness intervention sessions
God's superabundant grace
God's grace and Rembrandt
Ethics and personhood
Rembrandt's religious paintings

Related

The Health and Logic of a Thankful Lifestyle
Gallup Polls Highlight Happiness, Health and Logic in Spirituality
How Identity, Logic and Physics Prove God's Existence