Beyond Forgiveness: Reflections on Atonement
Richard (R.J.) Meyer was the inspiration and contributing author for the 2011 anthology, Beyond Forgiveness: Reflections on Atonement by Phil Cousineau. Beyond Forgiveness shows how acts of atonement—making amends, providing restitution, restoring balance—can relieve us of the pain of the past and give us a hopeful future. This rich and powerful book includes 15 thoughtful contributions by high-profile thinkers and activists including Huston Smith, Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith, Azim Khamisa, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Professor Jacob Needleman, Professor Michael Nagler, Diane Hennacy Powell M.D., James O’Dea, Arun Gandhi, Kate Dahlstedt M.A., Ed Tick Ph.D, Richard J. Meyer, Rev. Heng Sure Ph.D, Douglas George-Kanentiio, and Katharine Dever. Atonement is put forward as a process that we must all learn to practice—from individuals to nations—if we are to heal our wounds and move forward.
Cousineau is the host and co-writer of Global Spirit on PBS. He has published over 40 books and written or co-written more than 20 documentary films. Beyond Forgiveness: Reflections on Atonement was published by Jossey Bass and was selected as the “Common Theme Book of The Year” 2013-2015 at Indiana University.
If we harbor thoughts of violence, or hatred, or seek revenge or retribution, we are contributing to the wounding of the world; if we transform those thoughts into forgiveness and compassion, and then make amends or restitution, we are contributing to the healing of the world. This timely, powerful, and compassionate book helps show us the way.
– DEEPAK CHOPRA, AUTHOR, THE BOOK OF SECRETS AND THE PATH TO LOVE
Beyond Forgiveness: Reflections on Atonement is an inspiring, practical, and compelling book, relevant for our times. Cousineau provides a profound and provocative book that has us ponder where we might need to forgive ourselves and others and to look at atonement and what it ignites in the human spirit.