| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of the study was to describe experience of forgiveness in the context of spiritual healing. The present paper discusses religious and psychological concepts of forgiveness as well various factors linked with forgiveness, forgiveness process models and data that corroborate the findings. Links between forgiveness and spiritual healing concepts are also discussed. During the research eighth texts with the description of the forgiveness experience of middle-age (M = 40,25) women who had experienced spiritual healing were obtained and analyzed according to psychological phenomenological method by A. Giorgi. General description of the participants’ forgiveness experience was finally composed and discussed in the context of different authors’ research results. The results show that the participants of the research consider forgiveness as process of mental activity dealing with past grievances, which demands time, conscious decisions and efforts, when positive changes on the emotional, cognitive, interpersonal relationship and spiritual levels occur. Experience of forgiveness may be described as alternation of emotions when negative feelings change to positive; emotional disassociation from past offences and withdrawal from continual rumination; restored sense of self; change of view to the offender, oneself, other people and the milieu; change in the relationship with the offender. In the process of forgiveness realization of the limited capacity to forgive and experience the necessity of God’s help to forgive are very important as well as acceptance of grievous experiences and spiritual growth possibilities. |
