Facing the Unexpected Systematic theological and pastoral psychological approaches to forgiveness

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Gunda Werner
• Subject Area: Roman Catholic Theology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 523647367

Wider research context / theoretical framework Questions concerning the possibility or impossibility of forgiveness affect many important aspects of life on both the personal and societal level. Current global political events including the effects of the pandemic demonstrate this with even greater urgency. At the same time, the Christian practices of forgiveness are in a state of crisis. This project offers a critical reframing and recontextualization of forgiveness in order to preserve its meaning and potential for transformation. Hypotheses/research questions /objectives In order to be meaningfully practiced, forgiveness must to be grounded in theological, philosophical, and therapeutic foundations. Based on these foundations, this project addresses the unresolved questions surrounding justice for victims and how much weight is given the freedom of individuals. Symbolic, ritual, temporal, spatial, social, and corporeal aspects all play important roles for therapeutic and religious practices of forgiveness while also fruitfully informing theology. However, ecclesiastical practices of forgiveness involve inherent power imbalances that require critical investigation. These hypotheses lead to the following research questions: • How do theology and philosophy speak about forgiveness today and what role does forgiveness play in social contexts? • What can an interdisciplinary approach between theology, philosophy and psychotherapy contribute to concepts of forgiveness? • How can an interdisciplinary and ecumenically-oriented theology of forgiveness be implemented in both secular and religious contexts? The aim of this project is to analyse the possibilities and challenges for forgiveness from the intersection of systematic theology and therapeutic praxis. Approach/methods The proposed project is based on two methodological approaches: first, the systematic development of an interdisciplinary theology of the possibility of forgiveness; second, the examination of psychotherapeutic and pastoral psychological concepts of forgiveness from a critical perspective on religious and ecclesiastical acts. The project includes two mutually complementary case studies corresponding to the methodologies. The project will produce scientific publications including a ‘Handbook of Forgiveness and Reconciliation.’ Level of originality / innovation This project takes a consistently interdisciplinary approach in exploring the issue of forgiveness. Lived experiences of forgiveness processes will be considered theologically, while systematic theological and philosophical concepts of forgiveness will be made practically accessible. This creates a strong link and bridges the gap between theology and the social sciences in understanding forgiveness. The social sciences will be shown to be a vital resource for systematic and practical theology.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Peter Ebenbauer; Dr. Daniel Minch