Forgiveness as Praxis: A Religious and Philosophical Perspective on Restorative Social Work

Forgiveness as Praxis: A Religious and Philosophical Perspective on Restorative Social Work

Mmaphuti Percy Dipela

Issue: Vol. 6 No.12 Article 31 pp. 3312 – 3326
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202561231 | Published online 28th November, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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ABSTRACT

This article explores the role of forgiveness in restorative social work through the intersecting lenses of philosophy and religion. In an era marked by systemic inequities and interpersonal trauma, forgiveness remains an underexplored yet vital dimension of restorative social work. This article interrogates forgiveness as a multidimensional praxis through the lenses of religious wisdom and philosophical inquiry, arguing that its ethical integration into restorative practice demands critical engagement with power, culture, and structural violence. Employing a qualitative systematic literature review and guided by the Integrative Critical-Restorative Theory, a framework synthesizing critical theory, restorative justice, and Ubuntu philosophy, the study reveals forgiveness as a contested process fraught with tensions between individual healing and systemic accountability. Key findings highlight the role of cultural and religious frameworks in shaping forgiveness narratives, the gendered and racialized dynamics of forgiveness discourse, and the ethical risks associated with coercive or depoliticized reconciliation. The analysis emphasizes the importance of survivor-centered, culturally humble approaches that connect interpersonal repair to structural change. Recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers include embedding reparative justice in restorative programmes, centering marginalized epistemologies, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Through bridging ancient wisdom and modern praxis, this study advances a vision of forgiveness that transcends individualism, offering pathways to heal fractured communities while challenging the systems that perpetuate these fractures.

Keywords – Forgiveness, Social Work, Restorative Justice, Religion, Ubuntu

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Dr. Dipela Mmaphuti Percy is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Work at the University of South Africa. He brings experience from working in both government and private institutions. He has supervised both master’s and doctoral candidates to completion. He has published both nationally and internationally.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Dipela, Mmaphuti Percy. “Forgiveness as Praxis: A Religious and Philosophical Perspective on Restorative Social Work.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no. 12 (2025): 3312 – 3326, https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202561231