catapult magazine

vol. 6, num. 15 :: 2007.07.27 — 2007.09.07

From the relative who holds grudges for decades to the saintly mentor who lets offenses roll off as easily as water, we all collect first and second hand experiences related to vengeance and forgiveness. What stories can we tell that show the ability or inability to process injustice in healthy ways? How do we negotiate offenses as individuals and communities?

Feature

Forgiveness and responsibility

by Daniel de Roulet

Experiences with family and community reveal lessons about forgiveness and the ways in which we fight those lessons.

Editorial

Quiet revenge

by Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma

As a response to injury, could vengeance and forgiveness be two sides of an attempt to solve the same problem?

Articles

Small town grudge

by Denise Frame Harlan

Citizens of Farmland, Indiana, past and present: get ready to get over it.

Forgiving at church

by Larry T. McKnight

A story that demonstrates the need for forgiveness even within faith communities.

Loophole

by Zena Neds-Fox

On the human tendency toward preemptive repentance.

Gallery

Vindication

by Elysha Ardelean

In case you missed it the first time

Repentance and peace in Ireland

by Joseph Liechty

An exploration of repentance in the context of Northern Ireland offers insight into a complex healing process.

Giving grace

by Barbara Lee

Forgiveness has healing power, with or without apologies.

Remembering how

by Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma

A recounting of lately stumbled-upon wisdom regarding grace, redemption and forgiveness.

Weaving the web

Anger and Forgiveness

This American Life

An early episode of Ira Glass’ National Public Radio show, broadcast originally as Your Radio Playhouse.

Readers write: Apologies [PDF]

The Sun Magazine

Short stories from magazine readers about saying and hearing the words, “I’m sorry.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. and the War on Terror

Perspectives Journal

Hak Joon Lee explores the U.S. response to the September 11 attacks through MLK’s theology.

Civilian and Soldier

A poem by Wole Soyinka takes a snapshot of a civilian facing death by a soldier's fire.

daily asterisk

Even in a country you know by heart
its hard to go the same way twice
the life of the going changes.
The chances change and make a new way.
Any tree or stone or bird
can be the bud of a new direction. The
natural correction is to make intent
of accident. To get back before dark
is the art of going.

Wendell Berry
“Traveling at Home” from Traveling at Home

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