Forgetting or Confessing?

The problem of guilt remains one of the most profound and enduring challenges that humanity is unable to resolve on its own.

In response, our fallen world offers various mechanisms to suppress or sidestep this burden. One such approach is the repression of memory—pretending that the past is behind us when, in truth, it remains unresolved, especially before God.

There is a widespread weariness with historical narratives, which are so often authored by the victors and those in power. The issue, of course, is that these victors and powerful entities are subject to change. Historically, we have seen shifts in educational content whenever political leadership changed. One can only imagine the chaos that would ensue if the official record of history were to be rewritten every few years to reflect the perspectives of the current ruling party. In such a scenario, historical accounts would ultimately become mere social constructs—more precisely, constructs shaped by the prevailing powers.

Religion, however, offers an alternative path toward addressing guilt: the path of confession and forgiveness—first before God, and then before fellow human beings, especially those who have been harmed. The failure to seek forgiveness often stems not only from a lack of courage to face the truth, but also from an inability to receive the grace of being forgiven by God.

Within Christian belief, the willingness to confess one’s sins, repent, and receive forgiveness in Christ is regarded as an act of faith. Through genuine faith in a God who extends forgiveness to those who truly repent, a real and lasting resolution to the problem of guilt is made possible. This stands in contrast to futile efforts to revise history—efforts that fail not only before the eyes of humanity but also before God, who sees all.

May God grant us the grace to face this issue with honesty and faith.