Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Forgiveness & Mercy
The capacity to forgive and be forgiven is central to spiritual life across all traditions. Whether understood as divine mercy (Rahman in Islam, chesed in Judaism) or as a practice of releasing resentment (in Buddhism), forgiveness is seen as both a gift from God and a discipline humans must cultivate toward one another.
Across the World's Religions
Christianity
- Practice
- Forgiveness through Christ's atonement
- Key Text
- Matthew 6:14-15; Luke 15:11-32
Islam
- Practice
- Al-Rahman, Al-Rahim — divine mercy and pardon
- Key Text
- Quran 39:53, 4:110
Judaism
- Practice
- Mechila (forgiveness), Teshuvah (repentance)
- Key Text
- Micah 7:18; Psalm 103:12
Hinduism
- Practice
- Kshama (forgiveness) as divine virtue
- Key Text
- Bhagavad Gita 16:1-3; Mahabharata 3.29
Buddhism
- Practice
- Metta (loving-kindness), release of ill-will
- Key Text
- Metta Sutta (Sn 1.8); Dhammapada 1-2