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Written by: Kamran Mofid

Published: 13 December 2015

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Dear Friends and Family,

May you find joy in the simple pleasures of life and may the light of the holiday season fill your heart with the hope for a better world

“…there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.” —Ecclesiastes 3:12

My wife, Annie, joins me in wishing all of you and your loved ones our warmest regards during this season of light as we all pray for “Peace on Earth!” 

With our love and unity,

Our Christmas Message: A time to open our hearts

A Christmas Gift of Forgiveness

Photo: africase.lds.org

As we decide what to give to others for Christmas this year, why not consider the gift of forgiveness?

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Matt. 6:12). 

As the story of Christmas reminds us, at the first Christmas, the angels announced, “Peace on earth, goodwill among men.” In other words, Christmas is a time for forgiveness, reconciliation, and for restoring broken relationships. It is said that, Jesus came to restore people’s broken relationships with God and with one another. That is why the purpose of Christmas must be to make peace, which requires courage, patience, openness, forgiveness and reconciliation. This has never been truer than it is today, given the state of the world in which we all live.

Christmas Time of the Year: Make It a Time for Storytelling

The Storyteller: Anker Grossvater, 1884, Museum of Art of Bern

As it has been said, Storytelling has the capacity to touch our deepest emotions and it can allow us to peer at beauty.  We glance at our own creativity and breathe our own thoughts.  But more than that: Storytelling is also a wonderful path to set ourselves free, by opening our hearts to others and letting them in; becoming one with one another.

Because, after all, as many have reminded us, the best way to know truth, wisdom or beauty is to try to express it and share it with others.

I firmly believe that storytelling- opening our hearts to others- should be instrumental in enhancing inclusion, social justice,  cultural life, and improving physical and emotional health at the individual, local, national and international levels.

So this Christmas have a story ready to share with all those around you. Open your heart to them and let them in, and watch how your friendship grows stronger and deeper.

Compassion and empathy grow from the seeds of understanding.
To develop understanding we need to develop our capacity to reflect...
And to reflect we will need to be able to remember. And to remember we will need to forgive. And to forgive we need to be able to reconcile. Thus, this is the path to transforming conflicts, bringing peace with justice and building a better world: compassion, empathy, reflection, rememberance, forgiveness and reconciliation.

These are the values I learnt from the “Story of Coventry and Coventry Cathedral” which is my Christmas Story to tell:

Photo: Anne Mofid

“Father, Forgive” - these two words which I discovered at the ruins of Coventry Cathedral in 1973 changed the course of my life.

This is the story I must tell at this Christmas time:

Coventry and I: The story of a boy from Iran

Who became a man in Coventry

Please read my story:

Coventry and I: The story of a boy from Iran who became a man in Coventry

A Fresh Start for 2018 

“No matter how dark the night, morning always comes. And our journey begins anew.”- Anonymous

For those who want a fresh start for the new year, beginning with forgiveness will make it easier to keep those resolutions.

Nelson Mandela offered his philosophy of forgiveness after 27 years in prison.  His words hold true for all:

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

We should declare 2018 as “The Year of Global Forgiveness”. Out of great crises, humanity has always borne beautiful visions. In 2018 we should all be guided by “Forgiveness and Reconciliation” to build the better world we are all hoping for.

With excitement for all we will do together in the years to come,

Kamran and Annie Mofid

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Written by: Kamran Mofid

Published: 10 December 2015

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Artist unknown-Photo: michiganpeaceteam.wordpress.com

In the past two decades there has been a significant and increasing focus on forgiveness and reconciliation in societies coming out of conflicts and wars. In the previous decades, these concepts were the domain of philosophers and theologians but have become increasingly linked to questions of socio-political transition in post- conflict countries and regions.

Consequently, the concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation have now fallen under the academic microscope, research and investigation, as well teaching.

This was not the case in the 1990s. The academic interest in these topics was in its infancy. Moreover, to the best of my knowledge, there existed no formal academic centre/s at British universities- or elsewhere for that matter- dedicated solely to the study of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Those who have read Coventry and I: The story of a boy from Iran who became a man in Coventry know that things started to change in 1996, when The Centre for the Study of Forgiveness and Reconciliation was co-founded and established at Coventry University:

“The Centre was officially inaugurated on 11 March 1996, when its distinguished patron, Mary Robinson, the President of Ireland, delivered the inaugural lecture at Coventry Cathedral.” –Dr. Kamran Mofid, Co-founder and Associate Director in 1996

The historical background to how this centre came to be established, can be noted in Centre for the Study of Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Here I wish to share with you the first “Green Paper” I had prepared in May 1996 for the Centre’s Steering and Management Committee, setting out our mission, vision, goals and objectives, whilst trying to answer questions, such as:

What is Forgiveness? What is Reconciliation? Are these two concepts the same, or not? Is Forgiveness to Forget, or to Forgive and Remember? Is Forgiveness the same as justice? What is the relationship between mediation and reconciliation? What are the contributions of forgiveness and reconciliation to non-violent conflict resolution and peace building?

I have noted the document ”A Green Paper” for your interest below:

Forgiveness and Reconciliation: “A Green Paper” by Dr. Kamran Mofid, May 1996

(N.B. I am most grateful to Prof. W. Shriver, Jr, President Emeritus and William E. Dodge Professor of Applied Christianity, Union Theological Seminary, New York 1975-91, and the author of an epic study “An Ethic for Enemies, Forgiveness in Politics” Oxford University Press, 1995 for his inspirational correspondence with me and his writings, enabling me to formulate and prepare the “A Green Paper”.)

It goes without saying that, I feel extremely humbled and honoured for the part I was able to play to bring about the study of forgiveness and reconciliation to the heart of academic consideration and thank all those marching with me to make this possible.

The statue of reconciliation in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral. I was honoured and proud to be present at the unveiling ceremony of the statue in Coventry in 1995 and later on at Hiroshima Peace Garden where a replica was unveiled.

Photo: Anne Mofid