Resentment and Forgiveness in Christianity, Buddhism, and Nietzsche

This week, we will be exploring the concepts of resentment and forgiveness from Christian, Buddhist, and philosophical perspectives and what we can learn from them about our mental health. Our discussion will be based on three insightful texts (book chapters):

Readings (Click to Download):

1. C.S. Lewis – Mere Christianity (Chapter: "Forgiveness"): Lewis believes that resentment is corrosive to one’s spirit and prevents full communion with God; forgiveness is a moral obligation central to Christian teaching, even if it is difficult.
2. The Dalai Lama – The Art of Happiness (Chapter: "Dealing with Anger and Hatred"): In Buddhism, forgiveness is about letting go one's own negativities in order to attain happiness and inner peace. Forgiven can be done through the cultivation of compassion for others, recognizing that those who hurt us, too, suffer their own ignorance or pain.
3. Robert C. Solomon – Living with Nietzsche (Section from Chapter: "Nietzsche on Resentment, Love and Pity"): For Nietzsche (as explained by Solomon), resentment is a sign of weakness, while forgiveness is an act of strength, of overcoming the victim mentality, of affirming life as it is.

Each text is around 5-6 pages long. You are encouraged to read them before the meeting for more fulfilling engagement.

Guiding Questions:

• Which text resonated with you the most? What about it stood out to you?
• What similarities or differences did you observe between the Christian, Buddhist, and Nietzschean views on resentment and forgiveness?
• What major insights did you gain from these readings with regards to your own issues of resentment and forgiveness?

Following Up:
This meeting is the second part of a three-part series, with each session building on the last:
(1) Self-alienation as Original Sin (completed)
(2) Resentment and Forgiveness (this session)
(3) Call of Conscience and Self-Love (upcoming)
Therefore, we’ll be referring to the key points from our previous session on "Self-Alienation as Original Sin" and explore how they are related to this week's topic. If you attended the previous session, we encourage you to continue the journey with us. If you didn’t attend, don’t worry! We will provide a brief recap at the start to ensure everyone is on the same page.

#sin #selfalienation #resentment #anger #forgiveness #Christianity #Buddhism #lettinggo #innerpeace #authenticity #spirituality #mentalhealth

Support the Group:

Even though I am keen to hold this space, it demands time and platform fees. If you find value in this space, please consider a monthly donation of $5-20. One-time donation is also welcome! (Donate via e-transfer: info@artofhumaning.co or via PayPal)

Stay in Touch:
Feel free to contact me if you want to suggest or request a topic for group discussion. You are also welcome to send me a DM for personal opinions or questions you don't feel comfortable sharing in the group.

This event is brought to you by Leanna of Wiser Mental Health, another meetup group in Toronto. Leanna is a philosophical counsellor in training for spiritually integrated psychotherapy. She has a Master’s degree in philosophy and is a meditator in the Theravada Buddhist/Vipassana tradition. Check out her Group for philosophically and spiritually integrated mental health support.