Compassion and Forgiveness: Inheriting the Wisdom of Our Spiritual Traditions

The purpose of this book is to invite the reader to discover how spiritual traditions, regardless of their diversity, invite believers to live with compassion and forgiveness for all. This book is not a comprehensive resource to the wide variety of religious traditions in Canada today. Reading this book may remind us of what in our sacred traditions best forms us and our neighbours to become a more compassionate and forgiving people.

Ten different contributors were invited to share briefly some of rich teachings, symbols, rituals and holy people that inspire those of their faith tradition to be compassionate and forgiving. Each article is a perspective from within the tradition. Not all spiritual traditions or expressions within a tradition are included. Given the number of Christians in Canada there are Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Mennonite. Given, too, that the first Nations perspective has long been absent, there are two articles giving an Aboriginal perspective. Our neighbours from the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist spiritual traditions are also included.