Getting Even: Forgiveness and Its Limits

Rating:
Summary: Excellent academic and philosophic view of violence
Review: This book was required reading for me for a Master's course on violence. Being a person trained in the physical sciences, I must say I had a difficult time reading this book. I like equations and concepts that are right or wrong or a question I can calculate an answer that is either correct or incorrect. This book is a highly academic and philosophic view of violence, forgiveness, repentance, and vengeance.

In the authors own words (or at least paraphrased), the book sets out to show that it is possible vindictiveness and vengeance possess some positive value, the relationship between repentance and legitimate forgiveness, explore self-forgiveness, how these issues play out in criminal law and psychotherapy, and the role of Christianity in the previously mentioned topics.

Personally, I found parts of the book to drag on (Remember, I studied Engineering. Philosophy is a new concept to me), but overall I found the book to be unique and intriguing. The author conveys the point that forgiveness is great, but the victim has every right to be vindictive. The vindictive side of the victim is just as legitimate as feelings of forgiveness. I was also very intrigued at the author examination of the topic of Christianity and forgiveness. In a nutshell, for every story of forgiveness Christianity preaches, there is a story of raw rage and vengeance.

The book is a well thought out view of violence, forgiveness, and vengeance. The author does not pretend to have all the answers, just offer his personal view. I believe that anyone who is trained in the physical sciences will have a difficult time reading this book (at least I did). I would recommend this book as an advanced reference on the topic of forgiveness and vengeance. I would also recommend the book to someone who enjoys reading philosophic views of today's issues in society.