Question

Does restoration require forgiveness by the victim of the offense or someone close to the victim? If not, explain how restoration is different from forgiveness.(please write a short paragraph)

Answer 1

Restoration mainly refers to open talk between the victim and the offender. It is also a part of restorative justice. Here, the victim gets an opportunity to raise his/her voice against the offender, which he or she was unable to do at the time of the offence. This gives the victim an opportunity to get the weight off their chests, giving them a relief or satisfaction of telling their offenders what their action has caused them and that they have to take responsibility.

Restoration may or may not involve forgiveness. It can be that the victim have forgave the offender and wanted to have a serious discussion of what happened to him or her or how it affected him or her. This works as a base for understanding for the offender as well and thereby reducing future offences. Now, without forgiveness, it's mostly about venting the victims frustration of being mistreated.

Forgiveness is the act of understanding how and why a person has behaved in such manner and finding it in their heart to let it pass and start over.

Restoration without forgiveness is the open talk about their hurt inner feelings which cannot absorb the impact of the offence.