New Film, Book and Awareness Campaign Inspire Americans to Consider Forgiveness

It's been widely documented in academic studies, published books and now in a new documentary film: forgiveness has the power to change lives. This month, the Fetzer Institute, a nonprofit foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is promoting this message through sponsorship of a public television documentary, The Power of Forgiveness, as part of its Campaign for Love & Forgiveness. The Institute is also supporting the documentary's companion book, "The Power of Forgiveness," by noted religion writer Kenneth Briggs (Fortress Press).

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (PRWEB) March 14, 2008 -- It's been widely documented in academic studies, published books and now in a new documentary film: forgiveness has the power to change lives.

This month, the Fetzer Institute, a nonprofit foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is promoting this message through sponsorship of a public television documentary, The Power of Forgiveness, as part of its Campaign for Love & Forgiveness at http://loveandforgive.org . The Institute is also supporting the documentary's companion book, "The Power of Forgiveness," by noted religion writer Kenneth Briggs (Fortress Press).

There is an underlying anger in our country that we see regularly in our movies, in the news, even on our highways. For some that anger is acceptable. Others are calling for a new direction in our thinking and the way we interact with others. Forgiveness offers a solid first step.

"For much of our organization's history, we have been quietly studying the effects of forgiveness on individuals and communities," says Susan Trabucchi, senior program officer for communication and outreach at the Fetzer Institute. "We know that love and forgiveness help address critical issues facing the world today. We've seen exceptional examples of this in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania; Blacksburg, Virginia; and of course, at Ground Zero."

"Our hope is Americans will continue to be inspired by these stories and begin to practice forgiveness--in even small ways--at home, work and in the communities where we live."

In the one-hour documentary airing in March on public television stations across the country, filmmaker Martin Doblmeier explores the role forgiveness holds in various faith traditions and examines how the scientific community is measuring the physical and mental benefits of letting go of grief and resentment. The Power of Forgiveness includes interviews with renowned Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel, best-selling authors Thomas Moore and Marianne Williamson, and others (check local listings for broadcast date and times).

"The word 'forgiveness' may be the most provocative word in our culture today," says Doblmeier. "There is an underlying anger in our country that we see regularly in our movies, in the news, even on our highways. For some that anger is acceptable. Others are calling for a new direction in our thinking and the way we interact with others. Forgiveness offers a solid first step."

Taking its theme and key resources from the film, Briggs' book points in a direction of its own: probing religious meanings of the process of forgiveness, including the pacifist option; testing the complexities and limits of forgiving; considering the difficulties of actually carrying it out; and examining the scientific claims about the health benefits of forgiveness.

"Through community conversation in seven cities across the country, people are learning the myriad ways forgiveness can impact their own lives," says Linda Grdina, a program officer at the Fetzer Institute managing the community outreach campaign. "From Rochester to San Diego more than 2,000 people have chosen to participate. Now we're offering resources online so anyone can join the campaign."

While the documentary and book tell some of the more astonishing stories of forgiveness, The Campaign for Love & Forgiveness Web site http://loveandforgive.org offers the stories of individuals whose lives have been changed by more ordinary acts.

Visitors to the campaign Web site will also find downloadable discussion guides for The Power of Forgiveness film http://www.thepowerofforgiveness.com, information on the outreach efforts of the seven public television stations and their community partners, suggested daily practices of love and forgiveness, resource lists, audio recordings provided by StoryCorps, and a place to submit their own stories of forgiveness.

The Campaign for Love & Forgiveness is a project of the Fetzer Institute http://www.fetzer.org whose mission--to foster awareness of the power of love and forgiveness in the emerging global community--rests on the conviction that efforts to address the world's critical issues must go beyond political, social, and economic strategies to their psychological and spiritual roots.

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