VOLUME 9 |ISSUE 1 |2018 2323
who are not being careful with the Scriptures by projecting
onto them modern ideas of forgiveness that are derived from
pop psychology. Of course, doing this has huge negative
consequences, as she shows in each of her examples. To take
just one, in many Christian—and especially Evangelical—
churches, pastors will often counsel victims of domestic
violence, generally women, that they need to forgive their
husbands in order to keep their marriage together. Sometimes,
this leads to terrible outcomes by encouraging women to
return to their abusive homes only to be further brutalized.
Of course, everybody acknowledges that forgiveness can
be a wonderful thing when done in the right context for
the right reasons, and the persons requesting it have real
remorse for their actions and have genuinely had a change
of heart. Nobody objects to this but forgiving people who
have not repented and not attempted to do their part to make
amends does not seem to be what the Bible requires of us,
and this difference has profound implications for former cult
members who are still trying to live as Christian believers. I
would recommend The Limits of Forgiveness: Case Studies in
the Distortion of a Biblical Ideal by Maria Mayo to any Christian
believer struggling with what to do about forgiving somebody
who has wronged them. n
...forgiveness can be a
wonderful thing when done
in the right context for the
right reasons, and the persons
requesting it have real
remorse...
About the Reviewer
Doug Duncan, MS, LPC, was a member
of an aberrant religious group for more
than twenty years. After defying the cult
leader and marrying Wendy, they eventually
left the cult and Doug began the task of
rebuilding his life. He enrolled in a master’s
program in counseling and earned a
degree and license to practice therapy.
After working on their cult recovery issues by reading all the
available cult literature, attending conferences, and becoming
involved with ICSA, Doug and Wendy started a ministry to
increase others’ awareness and understanding of cults. They are
frequent presenters at churches, civic groups, and conferences,
and also facilitators of a support group for former members
of cults and high-demand groups. Additionally, Doug offers
individual counseling to former members. n
who are not being careful with the Scriptures by projecting
onto them modern ideas of forgiveness that are derived from
pop psychology. Of course, doing this has huge negative
consequences, as she shows in each of her examples. To take
just one, in many Christian—and especially Evangelical—
churches, pastors will often counsel victims of domestic
violence, generally women, that they need to forgive their
husbands in order to keep their marriage together. Sometimes,
this leads to terrible outcomes by encouraging women to
return to their abusive homes only to be further brutalized.
Of course, everybody acknowledges that forgiveness can
be a wonderful thing when done in the right context for
the right reasons, and the persons requesting it have real
remorse for their actions and have genuinely had a change
of heart. Nobody objects to this but forgiving people who
have not repented and not attempted to do their part to make
amends does not seem to be what the Bible requires of us,
and this difference has profound implications for former cult
members who are still trying to live as Christian believers. I
would recommend The Limits of Forgiveness: Case Studies in
the Distortion of a Biblical Ideal by Maria Mayo to any Christian
believer struggling with what to do about forgiving somebody
who has wronged them. n
...forgiveness can be a
wonderful thing when done
in the right context for the
right reasons, and the persons
requesting it have real
remorse...
About the Reviewer
Doug Duncan, MS, LPC, was a member
of an aberrant religious group for more
than twenty years. After defying the cult
leader and marrying Wendy, they eventually
left the cult and Doug began the task of
rebuilding his life. He enrolled in a master’s
program in counseling and earned a
degree and license to practice therapy.
After working on their cult recovery issues by reading all the
available cult literature, attending conferences, and becoming
involved with ICSA, Doug and Wendy started a ministry to
increase others’ awareness and understanding of cults. They are
frequent presenters at churches, civic groups, and conferences,
and also facilitators of a support group for former members
of cults and high-demand groups. Additionally, Doug offers
individual counseling to former members. n
