An Iowa College in the Liberal Arts Tradition
Frequently Asked Questions
What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness is the replacement of negative with positive emotions, thoughts, and behaviors toward yourself (self-forgiveness) or someone that has hurt you (forgiving others). It is NOT saying what happened is okay. It is NOT making friends or reconciling with the person again (unless you want to). It is not a requirement. Forgiveness is an unearned gift that you give yourself and others. From a spiritual standpoint, forgiveness is often described in terms of the experience of a transformational moment, when a wounded, hateful heart finds peace.
Other FAQs
- What is unique about FoRGo?Simply put, our credentials and professional experience. We speak truth into an often complex and...
- Is it possible to teach people to forgive, become more resilient, and to grow?Yes. Science shows this quite convincingly. Most folks just need a little bit of guidance...
- Is FoRGo a Christian program?Yes and No. As Christians, we believe that the essence of the Christian faith is...
- What is the hardest part about forgiveness?Figuring out that you need to do it to become more resilient and to continue...
- What is the biggest barrier to forgiveness?Believing that you shouldn’t have to do it. It’s the other person’s fault, right? This...
- Does forgiveness mean letting the offender “off the hook?”No! Forgiveness is something that you do for yourself (or God) to feel better. Justice...
- What are the main health benefits of forgiveness?Improved spiritual well-being. You feel like yourself again. Improved mental and physical health are benefits...
- How does forgiveness help foster wellness?A life well-lived is a life where you forgive. In short, social support is one...
- Am I a bad person if I choose NOT to forgive?No. Just hurting....
- Is self-forgiveness a biblical concept?Everything is debatable. Our understanding of the Bible has yielded this observation: Nowhere in the...
- Why is the discussion about self-forgiveness framed as “moral self-forgiveness?”Wrongdoing usually has ripple-effects. Others are often hurt by our mistakes. Forgiving ourselves is good,...
- What are 5 quick things you can do to increase forgiveness of self or others right now?1) Pray for your enemy. Praying for one’s enemies is not the same as forgiveness, but...
- What is growth?We think of growth as the process of developing, sometimes painfully, emotional and moral maturity....
- What is the definition of resilience?The ability to bounce back from difficult things that happen. TIP: Tennis balls bounce when...
- Is it wrong to feel angry when someone hurts you?No, in fact we encourage people to embrace the positive aspects of anger, like seeking...
- Is there a difference between anger and hatred?YES! A very important difference! For example, you can be angry at a child and...
- What is UNforgiveness?Put simply, hate! Hate underlies most unforgiveness and it appears in the form of extreme...
- What is forgiveness?Forgiveness is the replacement of negative with positive emotions, thoughts, and behaviors toward yourself (self-forgiveness)...
- What is the goal of FoRGo?To create exceptional students, in body, mind and spirit. Exceptional COLLEGE STUDENTS, (and others) are committed...