More Information
ISBN: 9781783683550
Imprint: Langham Academic
Format: Paperback
Dimensions (mm): 229 x 152 x 17
Publication Date: 14/11/2017
Pages: 314
Series: Studies in Public Theology
Language: English

Forgiveness and Politics

A Critical Appraisal

£24.99

Forgiveness and politics are often assumed, both ordinarily and academically, to be unrelated and un-relatable. This study not only argues that forgiveness and politics can be related, but also that they are intrinsically related. In making the case, this publication explores both the biblical foundations of forgiveness, and the concepts and practices of politics, justice, and reconciliation. The findings are tested and illustrated within two case studies of forgiveness, examining the conflict in Northern Ireland and several conflicts in Nagaland, India.

Author Bios

Kethoser Aniu Kevichusa
(By)

KETHOSER (ANIU) KEVICHUSA is a speaker and trainer with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in India. He earned his PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, UK. He has also pursued theological education first in India, then in the UK, following his undergraduate degree in English Literature. Aniu lives with his wife, Ono, and their three young sons in Nagaland, India. His primary ministry gifts are expository preaching, Christian apologetics and evangelism.

Endorsements

Kevichusa rightly grounds his forgiveness ethic in the very fabric of reality as narrated by the biblical story, and reflects on its implications for politics, justice, and reconciliation. His concrete examples of Northern Ireland and his own Naga people in India make his theology come alive. This book is well-written and will lead you deeply and faithfully into an issue that is increasingly urgent today. Highly recommended.

Michael Goheen, PhD
Theological Director of Missional Training Center and Scholar in Residence,
Surge Network of Churches, Arizona

Kethoser Aniu Kevichusa argues the startlingly hopeful and demanding possibility that forgiving and politics go together. Forgiving sustains politics in being humanly hopeful and truthful. Politics serves to disseminate forgiving in the realities of social existence. This profound well-written book deserves a good hearing by theorists and activists alike.

Haddon Willmer, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Theology,
University of Leeds, UK


This work is theoretically sophisticated, theologically deep, and refreshingly forward looking in its re-conception of forgiveness and reconciliation. It implicitly highlights the increasingly minority position that a religious/biblical worldview is absolutely central to public discourse on forgiveness and reconciliation and that a restorative approach to justice must not ignore these concepts for it to truly work.

David Emmanuel Singh, PhD
Research Tutor in Islamic Studies,
Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, UK

Table of Contents

  1. List of Figures, Maps, and Photographs
  2. List of Acronyms
  3. Chapter 1
    1. Introduction
      1. Research Question
      2. Field of Enquiry and Methodology
      3. Plan of the Book
  4. Chapter 2
    1. The Biblical Foundations of Forgiveness
      1. Introduction
      2. The Bible and Forgiveness: Typical Approaches
      3. The Story of the Bible
      4. An Evaluation and Reconstruction of the Model
      5. The Biblical Story and Forgiveness
      6. Forgiveness and “Creation”
      7. Forgiveness and “Covenant”
      8. Forgiveness and “Christ”
      9. Forgiveness and “Church”
      10. Forgiveness and “Consummation”
  5. Chapter 3
    1. Forgiveness and Politics
      1. Introduction
      2. Objections against Mixing Forgiveness and Politics
      3. Typical Theories of Forgiveness in Politics
      4. Conceptual Stretching: A Critique of Theories of Forgiveness in Politics
      5. Forgiveness and Politics: A Proposal
      6. Dialogue, Compromise, Realism, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness
      7. Some Strengths of the Proposal
  6. Chapter 4
    1. Forgiveness and Justice
      1. Introduction
      2. Injustice and Unforgiveness
      3. Forgiveness and Justice: Attempts at Relaxing the Tension
      4. Revisiting Justice
  7. Chapter 5
    1. Forgiveness and Reconciliation
      1. Introduction
      2. Reconciliation: A Critical Overview
      3. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Three Errors in Relating Them
      4. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Lederach’s Framework of Reconciliation
      5. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: A Proposal
  8. Chapter 6
    1. Forgiveness and the Northern Ireland Conflict
      1. Introduction
      2. The Northern Ireland Conflict: A Brief Sketch
      3. Understanding the Northern Ireland Conflict
      4. Forgiveness in Northern Ireland
      5. No Forgiveness in the GFA
      6. No Forgiveness in the GFA? A Response
  9. Chapter 7
    1. The Naga Story
      1. Introduction
      2. The Naga Story of Conflict
      3. Anatomy of Deeply Divided Societies
      4. The Nagas: A Typical Case of Deeply Divided Societies
      5. Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Nagaland: Starts, False-starts, Nonstarters, and Fresh-starts
  10. Chapter 8
    1. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation: An Assessment
      1. Introduction
      2. Reasons for FNR’s Success
      3. Criticisms, Caution, Critique
  11. Chapter 9
    1. Forgiveness in Politics and the Naga Conflict
      1. Introduction
      2. Forgiveness and Politics
      3. Political Compromise
      4. Forgiveness and Justice
  12. Chapter 10
    1. Conclusion
      1. Summary and Findings
      2. Contribution to Existing Body of Knowledge
      3. Limitations and Scope for Further Research
  13. Bibliography
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