11_14_23 - Forgiveness
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School
University of Missouri, Columbia *
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Course
2150
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by fjhohensinner
REQUIRED BEFORE CLASS
1.
Describe the Nickel Mines school incident and how the value of forgiveness
was demonstrated. Your answer should include who, what, where, and why
(i.e., what motivated the guilty party).
Who:
The shooter was Charles Carl Roberts IV, and there were 10 victims who
were schoolgirls (Amish Grace, p. xi).
What:
The shooter killed 5 schoolgirls and five others were seriously wounded
(Amish Grace, p. xi).
Where:
The shooting took place in an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines which
is located in Pennsylvania (Amish Grace, p. xi).
Why:
Rage was the motivation for the shooter (Amish Grace, p. xi).
The value of forgiveness was demonstrated by the Amish in this incident by
forgiving Charles and that they expressed grace towards his family (Amish
Grace, p. xi).
Right before the shooting happened, one of the school girls asked
Charles to shoot her first (Amish Grace p. 111).
This could also be seen as a
slight form of forgiveness because she knew what was about to happen even
though nothing had happened yet.
This could relate to Jesus dying on the cross
for our sins, and how she died in hope to save her classmates.
2.
How does the Amish demonstrate forgiveness in Nickel Mines connected with
at least two of the following:
a.
Gelassenheit/yieldedness
b.
Dirk Willems and the Martyrs' Mirror
Dirk Willems was an Anabaptist who escaped jail.
He demonstrated forgiveness
by what he did while he was escaping.
While he was escaping, he had to cross
a frozen pond, and his pursuer fell through the ice.
Willems went back and
saved his life, only for him to be captured and killed.
He forgave his enemy and
risked his life to save him (Amish Grace, p. 108-109). Martyrs’ Mirror is a book
filled with Ababaptists like Dirk Willems.
The book demonstrates forgiveness as
it is a central theme of its stories (Amish Grace, p. 107).
c.
The Lord's Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer states, “and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us.”
This is one of the most important prayers in Christianity
and it clearly states the act of forgiveness and the Amish practice Christianity
everyday.
d.
Amish view evil within their church and outside of their church
3.
How does the Amish forgiveness response compare to the likely response of
mainstream American society? Consider messages you may have had
around forgiveness in your schools, family and friends, and faith communities
as relevant.
What questions does this raise for you about the Amish? Give
some thoughts and observations from your own experiences of mainstream
culture. We will discuss these questions in class to help us expand on the
readings.
The likely response of mainstream American society to a school shooting is
much more unforgiving than the way the Amish forgive. After school
shootings, the public
immediately demands justice.
Even when not a very
serious crime is committed,
mainstream American society demands
revenge.
For example, people were happy to hear that OsamaBin Laden had
been killed.
This was seen as a good thing and revenge that he had been
killed for all of those people killed on 9/11.
Since the Amish believe in
forgiveness for almost
everything, did they think the terrorists should’ve
been forgiven for what they did on 9/11? Just in general, do they think every
person that commits a terrible crime should be automatically forgiven
without any punishment?
Many of the Amish families attended the burial of Charles Roberts.
In the
video they explained that the same day of the shooting, some families of the
victims visited Charles’ home, and they explained it as how grace and hope
walked through the door.
They feel like they don’t need to retaliate against
those who commit crimes against their family because the community helps
support them and what they are going through.
The Amish take a more
active role in forgiving.
For example, in the film the Amish community went
to the killers’ families’ home and forgave them.
In mainstream society
people usually take a more passive role on forgiving and don’t really take
action on forgiving someone.
IN CLASS
4. Vocalizer: Mali, Scribe: Frankie H, Facilitators: Lexi, Audrey
5. We all agreed that we have been taught to forgive, but we don't find it as easy as the
Amish to forgive a shooter.
We also collectively agreed that we would hold a grudge
against the person who committed the crime, but we wouldn't act on it.
We would want
to forgive them but it would take some time to process it and we wouldn't immediately
show up at the shooter's house and forgive them like they did in the film.
6. How much forgiveness is too much forgiveness? How much forgiveness do the
Amish give to individuals within their own community?
7.
How did the Amish ethic of forgiveness compare with Elie Wiesel?
He was a holocaust survivor.
He had a desire of acknowledgment for what was done
was wrong.
He asked the German government to apologize to the Jewish people.
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