Forgiveness & Corporal Punishment
Forgiveness in Religious Teaching
Forgiveness is one of the most important concepts in both Christianity and Islam. It means pardoning someone who has done wrong and choosing not to hold resentment or seek revenge. For religious believers, forgiveness is not just a personal choice — it is a moral duty rooted in sacred teaching.
Christianity places forgiveness at the very centre of its faith. Jesus’s death on the cross is understood as the ultimate act of forgiveness — God forgiving humanity for its sins. Jesus taught his followers to forgive others without limit. When Peter asked “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”, Jesus replied: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21–22). This means forgiveness should be unlimited.
The Lord’s Prayer includes the words: “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” This shows that receiving God’s forgiveness is linked to forgiving others. Christians who refuse to forgive cannot expect God’s forgiveness in return. On the cross, Jesus demonstrated this by praying: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
In Islam, Allah is described by many names relating to forgiveness, including Al-Ghaffar (“the All-Forgiving”) and Ar-Rahman (“the Most Merciful”). Muslims are taught that forgiving others brings them closer to Allah. The Qur’an states: “Whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah” (42:40). During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are especially encouraged to seek and grant forgiveness.
Non-religious people also value forgiveness, though for different reasons. Humanists may support forgiveness because it promotes human well-being and reduces suffering. Psychologists have shown that holding onto anger and resentment can damage mental and physical health, while forgiveness can lead to healing and improved relationships.
However, some non-religious people argue that forgiveness is not always appropriate. If a criminal has not shown genuine remorse, forgiveness may seem unjust to the victim. Some argue that justice must come before forgiveness — a criminal should face consequences for their actions before any question of forgiveness arises.
Contrasting Beliefs on Forgiveness
Christianity: Most Christians believe that forgiveness is always possible and that believers have a duty to forgive, even when it is extremely difficult. Jesus forgave those who crucified him, setting the ultimate example. However, some Christians distinguish between forgiveness (which is always required) and reconciliation (which may not always be possible or safe). A victim can forgive their attacker without having to re-establish a relationship with them.
Islam: Muslims are encouraged to forgive, but Islam also recognises the right to justice. The Qur’an offers a choice: “The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto; but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah” (42:40). This means that while forgiveness is preferred and rewarded by Allah, victims also have the right to seek proportionate justice. Some Muslims argue that forgiving is a sign of spiritual strength, while others believe that justice must be served first.
Key contrast: Christianity teaches that forgiveness is unconditional — believers must forgive, even their worst enemies. Islam teaches that forgiveness is highly valued and rewarded by Allah, but it also permits proportionate justice as a legitimate alternative. Both agree that forgiveness can open the way to reconciliation and is ultimately better for the individual and society.
The Link Between Forgiveness and Justice
One of the most challenging questions in religious ethics is how forgiveness relates to justice. Can you forgive someone while still insisting they face punishment? Most religious believers would say yes — forgiveness is a personal decision about letting go of anger, while justice is about holding people accountable for their actions.
Christians believe that God is both forgiving and just. While God offers forgiveness to all who repent, there are still consequences for sin. The parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31–46) teaches that people will be judged on their actions. Similarly, in Islam, Allah is both Al-Ghaffar (the All-Forgiving) and Al-Adl (the Just) — forgiveness and justice are not contradictory but complementary. A criminal can be forgiven by their victim while still serving a prison sentence, because forgiveness and justice serve different purposes.
Gee Walker: In 2005, Anthony Walker, a Black British teenager, was murdered in a racially motivated attack in Huyton, Merseyside. His mother, Gee Walker, a devout Christian, publicly forgave her son’s killers. She said: “I have to forgive them. I can’t feel anger and hatred, because that is what killed my son.” Her forgiveness was inspired by her Christian faith and Jesus’s teaching to forgive others. However, she also supported the killers receiving life sentences — showing that forgiveness and justice can coexist.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa): After apartheid ended in South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Rather than seeking retribution against those who had committed atrocities, the TRC offered amnesty to perpetrators who fully confessed their crimes. Tutu, inspired by his Christian faith, believed that forgiveness and truth-telling were more powerful than punishment in healing a divided nation. He said: “Without forgiveness, there is no future.”
In 2006, a gunman entered an Amish school in Pennsylvania, USA, and killed five girls before taking his own life. The Amish community, deeply committed to their Christian faith, immediately forgave the killer. Members of the community attended the gunman’s funeral and set up a charitable fund for his family. This remarkable act of forgiveness attracted worldwide attention and demonstrated how deeply some Christians take Jesus’s teaching on unlimited forgiveness.
These real-world examples show that forgiveness is not just a theoretical concept — it has transformative power in practice. However, they also show that forgiveness is extremely difficult, especially when the crime is severe. Religious teaching provides a framework for forgiveness, but the personal cost to victims should never be underestimated.