Different religious views about forgiveness
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain different Christian beliefs about forgiveness and evaluate how they are expressed.
Key learning points
- Forgiveness is central to Christianity and is closely linked to salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- The Bible teaches that forgiveness should be unlimited and essential, for example in Matthew 18:22 and Matthew 6:14–15.
- Christian traditions practise forgiveness in different ways, such as through confession, reconciliation or worship.
- Many Christians support organisations like Caritas or restorative justice programmes.
- The stories of Gee Walker and Julie Nicholson show how Christians live out forgiveness in different, personal ways.
Keywords
Forgiveness - to grant pardon for a wrongdoing; to give up resentment and the desire to seek revenge against a wrongdoer
Reconciliation - making up and rebuilding relationships between two groups/sides after disagreement
Restorative justice - an approach to justice that focuses on repairing the harm caused by wrongdoing through dialogue and understanding
Common misconception
Forgiveness comes naturally to all Christians because it is part of their faith.
Christianity teaches that forgiveness is important, but not that it is easy. Julie Nicholson’s story shows that even people of strong faith can struggle to forgive, especially after traumatic events. Forgiveness can be a long and difficult process.
Teacher tip
Clips of both Julie Nicholson and Gee Walker speaking about their stories would help to bring them to life.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their meanings.
punishment that gives a deserved consequence
punishment that aims to change the offender
discouraging others from committing crimes
Q2.What is the role of conscience in moral decision-making?
Q3.What is corporal punishment?
Q4.What does community service usually involve?
Q5.What does Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story teach us about Christian beliefs?
Q6.True or false? Prison always helps people change for the better.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does forgiveness mean?
Q2.What is restorative justice?
Q3.What is one way restorative justice can happen?
Q4.What did Jesus teach about enemies?
Q5.How many times did Jesus say one should forgive?
Q6.What does Caritas help with?
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Different religious views about forgiveness, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Different religious views about forgiveness, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Religion, crime and punishment unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.