JORAS - Nigerian Journal of Religion and Society

This article explores the current and increasingly popular concept of forgiveness and reconciliation from the perspective 'no peace without justice and no justice without forgiveness'. It argues that forgiveness and reconciliation are essential elements in Christian faith because they represent the possibility of conversion which is the goal of Christianity and most religions. In this perspective, this article maintains that a genuine and true reconciliation is the outcome of the victim's readiness to abandon his or her desire for revenge. There can no real peace without forgiveness. Thus, the task of real forgiveness and reconciliation needs both the victim's effort and God's grace. The main concern here is to show the context of conflict in Nigeria and recommend the necessity to advocate for reconciliation and forgiveness in order to build a new society. The work discusses the pitfalls toward the roadmap of justice and peace. Since there is no peace without justice and neither is there justice without forgiveness, taken from the message of John Paul II on world day of peace 2002. The paper is hedged on the stages of reconciliation and forgiveness and concludes that these are prerequisites for peace and justice.

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