I am enjoying the class I'm taking now...
It's called Religion and Justice.* It's an interesting subject and my professor who loves to teach is always challenging us to look at crime, punishment, incarceration, and restoration in a deeper way. Her mantra is "go deeper."
Restorative Justice seeks to view crime as "more than breaking the law." It involves more than simply punishing the offender. Restorative Justice is a field of justice which involves the victim and the community, as well as the offender. Its overall goal is to repair the damage done by criminal behavior.
In this course, however, spirituality is involved in the process. It also places a "high value" on having the victim and offender encounter one another. Not necessarily with actually meeting in person, although this is encouraged whenever possible. But such an encounter can also work by telephone, a video chat, through mail correspondence, or through a third party such as a clergy person, a friend, or by members of each other’s families.
Of course, the concept of Restorative Justice can only work if both parties are willing to cooperate. Many crime victims are not, while a number of offenders would feel uncomfortable too. For the offender, there may be fear involved at having to communicate with the victim, or the victim's family. While the injured party or parties may be too angry to even think about the idea of opening a line of communication, let alone meeting with the one who brought them so much harm and pain.
In Religion and Justice, we're looking at how faith-based programs could be of help in making peace between offender and victim. We look at forgiveness as something of a "new beginning," and how forgiveness can bring harmony and understanding. One classmate stated that forgiveness takes "strength." It takes more inner strength to forgive the one who hurt you as opposed to hating that person forever.
In my view, Restorative Justice has unlimited possibilities. I am also thankful for the opportunities I've had to share my story of redemption with the professor and my classmates. It has been a good way to introduce them to what Jesus Christ teaches about the subject of forgiveness, and how it connects to the healing of one's body, soul, and spirit.
We are also trying to define what justice is. Most people see justice simply as punishing the guilty party and sending him off to prison. But from the vantage of Restorative Justice, we are learning that this is only the beginning of a long journey for everyone. Justice doesn't end with incarceration. Restorative Justice takes a more holistic approach.
In sum, this has been a good and challenging course. It's taking me into a deeper understanding of the impact crime has on not just the victim and his or her own family and the offender's family, but on how it impacts the entire community, sometimes for years to come.
D.B.
*The class is called Religion & Justice, which is based on the concept of Restorative Justice.
Restorative Justice seeks to view crime as "more than breaking the law." It involves more than simply punishing the offender. Restorative Justice is a field of justice which involves the victim and the community, as well as the offender. Its overall goal is to repair the damage done by criminal behavior.
In this course, however, spirituality is involved in the process. It also places a "high value" on having the victim and offender encounter one another. Not necessarily with actually meeting in person, although this is encouraged whenever possible. But such an encounter can also work by telephone, a video chat, through mail correspondence, or through a third party such as a clergy person, a friend, or by members of each other’s families.
Of course, the concept of Restorative Justice can only work if both parties are willing to cooperate. Many crime victims are not, while a number of offenders would feel uncomfortable too. For the offender, there may be fear involved at having to communicate with the victim, or the victim's family. While the injured party or parties may be too angry to even think about the idea of opening a line of communication, let alone meeting with the one who brought them so much harm and pain.
In Religion and Justice, we're looking at how faith-based programs could be of help in making peace between offender and victim. We look at forgiveness as something of a "new beginning," and how forgiveness can bring harmony and understanding. One classmate stated that forgiveness takes "strength." It takes more inner strength to forgive the one who hurt you as opposed to hating that person forever.
In my view, Restorative Justice has unlimited possibilities. I am also thankful for the opportunities I've had to share my story of redemption with the professor and my classmates. It has been a good way to introduce them to what Jesus Christ teaches about the subject of forgiveness, and how it connects to the healing of one's body, soul, and spirit.
We are also trying to define what justice is. Most people see justice simply as punishing the guilty party and sending him off to prison. But from the vantage of Restorative Justice, we are learning that this is only the beginning of a long journey for everyone. Justice doesn't end with incarceration. Restorative Justice takes a more holistic approach.
In sum, this has been a good and challenging course. It's taking me into a deeper understanding of the impact crime has on not just the victim and his or her own family and the offender's family, but on how it impacts the entire community, sometimes for years to come.
D.B.
*The class is called Religion & Justice, which is based on the concept of Restorative Justice.
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