Religious Recovery
  • Home
    • Welcome
    • Questions
    • Founders
  • Reviews
  • Meetings
    • Indiana
    • Ohio
  • Steps/Stones
  • Audiobooks
  • Books
    • Every Path Leads Home
    • Strength for the Journey Home
    • Set Your Course
    • Course Corrections
  • Social Media
    • Inspiration
    • Facebook
    • Newsletter Signup
    • YouTube
    • BlogTalk Radio
  • Contact-Donate

March 3: Day 62

3/3/2017

0 Comments

 
STEP NINE CONTINUED
 
Forgive ourselves for all harm we may have caused, even if it was well-intended.

Instruction: Accept forgiveness.

For those who struggle with the ability to forgive themselves, accepting forgiveness from another source can often be a turning point in their lives. Many religions teach that their Higher Power is the source of ultimate forgiveness and no matter what heinous deeds we may be guilty of, we can always receive forgiveness from that divine source. Some religions even go so far as to claim that our trespasses will be forgiven, forgotten, and erased from the records of time. Maybe this is difficult for some people to accept, because they didn’t always see this modeled or saw it denied to people who were not like their religious group, but the message of forgiveness is not changed by people’s actions. Forgiveness from a Higher Power is discussed in most, if not all, religious texts. If that is true and if our Higher Power can forgive and forget, shouldn’t we also try our best to forgive those who have harmed us and forgive ourselves for any harm we may have done to others?

Many religions also provide a personal representative of their Higher Power who has supposedly been given the ability to grant forgiveness on behalf of that divine source to the followers of their religion. In some religions, there are multiple individuals, such as priests, who have been given that power. We do not judge these religions as right or wrong; we simply point out that it is often easier to accept forgiveness when it comes from another source that we feel has the authority to forgive our sins, trespasses, mistakes, and mishaps. Why is one individual’s ability to forgive our mistakes greater than our own ability to forgive our own mistakes? Some have asked for forgiveness from a religious leader and felt their sins had been forgiven only to discover later that the person granting absolution was guilty of similar sins and lapses of morality. Does that mean our forgiveness was not granted? I don’t think so. If one person can forgive another in the name of a deity, can’t we all simply forgive others and ourselves? Wouldn’t that divine being be pleased? If having someone to confess to helps an individual, they should not be denied the comfort of knowing their sins are forgiven.

Today’s Assignment might be difficult for some to accept. Consider the possibility that we can be ministers, priest, and rabbis to one another. If you still feel more comfortable seeking forgiveness from a holy man or woman, there is nothing wrong with doing so, and Religious Recovery does not discourage it. Our point here is to recognize that the power of forgiveness can come from multiple sources.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Note: You might need to refresh your screen to see the current day's Inspiration.

    Religious Recovery

    Our purpose is to help individuals to heal who have been injured by religion or the religious. We welcome your comments and questions.

    Archives

    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
    • Welcome
    • Questions
    • Founders
  • Reviews
  • Meetings
    • Indiana
    • Ohio
  • Steps/Stones
  • Audiobooks
  • Books
    • Every Path Leads Home
    • Strength for the Journey Home
    • Set Your Course
    • Course Corrections
  • Social Media
    • Inspiration
    • Facebook
    • Newsletter Signup
    • YouTube
    • BlogTalk Radio
  • Contact-Donate