Discover the transformative power of forgiveness in Amy Orr-Ewing's insightful book, which shows how letting go of anger can lead to healing and hope for you and your community.
"But if I forgive them, doesn't that mean they get away with it?"
In a culture shaped by outrage, punishment, and fear, forgiveness is often misunderstood--or dismissed entirely. It can feel impractical, unjust, or even harmful to our mental health.
But what if the opposite is true?
In Forgiveness, public theologian Amy Orr-Ewing explores why forgiveness is not a denial of justice but a powerful path toward healing, freedom, and hope--for individuals and for society. Drawing from theology, psychology, history, and literature, she examines
● why forgiveness is essential to emotional and mental well-being;
● how outrage and cancel culture damage individuals and communities;
● why forgiveness does not excuse harm, but can uphold justice;
● what the Christian vision of forgiveness offers that secular approaches cannot; and
● how breaking cycles of resentment can lead to genuine freedom.
Written for anyone wrestling with anger, hurt, or division--and especially for Christians seeking to live faithfully in a fractured world--this book offers a compelling vision of forgiveness that restores individuals, renews communities, and opens a way forward.
Forgiveness is not weakness. It may be the most powerful response we have.
Introduction
1. Forgiveness as a Radical Possibility for a Great Human Need
2. Forgiveness as a Welcome Challenge to a Punitive World
3. Forgiveness as a Theological Marvel and Gift to the World
4. Forgiveness as an Embodied Gift Lived Out in Reality
5. Forgiveness as a Healer Acquainted with Trauma
6. Forgiveness as a Gift to Any Who Experience Anxiety
7. Forgiveness as a Story We All Want to Be In
8. Forgiveness as an Integral Part of Flourishing Community
9. Forgiveness as a Defining Characteristic of Western Civilization
10. Forgiveness as a Guide in Our Struggle for Healthy National Identity
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Notes
| Contributors | Amy Orr-Ewing |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781587436079 |
| Format | Paperback |
| First published | April 2026 |
| Dimensions | 162mm x 215mm x 15mm |
| Weight | 0.22 kg |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 208 |
| Publisher | Baker |
Amy Orr-Ewing (DPhil, University of Oxford) is an international speaker, theologian, and public advocate for the Christian faith. She is the author of many books, including Mary's Voice, Where Is God in All the Suffering?, and Why Trust the Bible? Orr-Ewing has spoken in the UK Parliament, the US Capitol, and the West Wing of the White House and is an honorary lecturer at the University of Aberdeen and a distinguished scholar at Wheaton College. She previously served as president of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics Orr-Ewing lives near Oxford, England, with her husband and their three sons.
Like a beautiful diamond turned and turned so that its many dazzling facets can all be seen, forgiveness in Orr-Ewing's skillful treatment shines in a variety of settings. Clear, timely, and helpful, the insights here both comfort and challenge, for all of us as individuals and for our communities and nations too.
The book you are holding in your hands has the potential to change your life--for real. Forgiveness is the book we need in this moment. Orr-Ewing masterfully unpacks this profoundly misunderstood and largely forgotten superpower.
Forgiveness is something our polarized world and damaged hearts desperately need. Orr-Ewing has written a wonderful guide to forgiveness--revealing its Christian origins, its importance to our shared history, and our profound need for it in this moment.
