Forgiveness before its time: A theological reflection on the practice of forgiveness as experienced by Christian women survivors of sexual violence trauma

Abstract The Church can be a powerful supportive resource for Christian women in their arduous journey recovering from sexual violence trauma. However, these survivors are often found to be habitually re-traumatised by responses encountered in the aftermath leading to further wounding. Amongst the myriads of responses commonly experienced by the victims was the pressure to forgive. In this paper, I will explore the Christian practices of interpersonal forgiveness with a particular focus towards its application in the context of gender justice. The paper seeks to contribute to the growing efforts in developing theologically-robust and trauma-informed care for those struggling along the complex and challenging journey towards hope and healing.