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New year, ancient resolutions

January 9, 2012

Guy Nicholson: Thanks for joining us today, panelists. Which of these words with religious connotations comes closest to the secular New Year’s resolution: atonement, forgiveness, confession, reincarnation? Peter Stockland: Well, I would say they are all part of the same process, so it is hard to pick one out. Before we are genuinely renewed (reincarnated?), we have to seek genuine recognition (atonement) of what we’ve done (or are doing) in error and in both Catholic tradition and, I think, standard behaviour-change theory, we have to admit the error out loud to seek forgiveness and so let past patterns go. We begin with recognition, move to expression and get to renewal or resolution. My resolution this year, by the way, is to answer questions more directly. Sheema Khan: I think forgiveness is the closest, in the sense that one seeks forgiveness from God (for past transgressions), and one also forgives oneself. Of course, if the resolution involves changing one’s behaviour toward others (e.g., renewing family relationships), then a good way to start is to seek forgiveness of those whom one has hurt. Forgiveness is mentioned often in the Koran, and Muslims are reminded: “Forgive, do you not want God to forgive you?” Sincere forgiveness implies a change of behaviour as well. Lorna Dueck: What a great way to start us off, Guy. I think the word “confession” best suits the New Year’s resolution. In Christianity, confession can mean letting go of our sin, and it also means stating a belief we want to own. Confession is a new beginning! Peter Stockland: With perhaps the qualifier, Lorna, that Christian confession, like a New Year’s resolution, requires a concrete act (penance) to stick. We can't just have to say, “Oops, sorry about that.” We have to own it and take steps to change it. Read the entire exchange.