The work to launch Live and Forgive presentations, guided retreats and small group series continues. Live and Forgive is aimed at integrating the neuroscience of forgiveness with the faith-based principles of forgiveness, primarily in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Forgiveness is a contemporary topic and significant social and personal need for so many in our times right now. The recent Society for Philosophy and Neuroscience (SPAN) meeting included some important discussion on the topic of memory and forgiveness:

Felipe De Brigard, Ph.D., faculty at Duke University’s Institute for Brain Sciences, presented compelling research on the connection between memory and forgiveness.

Drawing on his dual background in neuroscience and philosophy, his work challenges the adage “forgive and forget,” suggesting instead that forgiveness may involve remembering past events with less emotional intensity, rather than attempting to erase or suppress them.​ This conceptual reframing carries important implications. De Brigard’s work suggests that the emotional benefits often linked to forgiveness, such as reduced stress, improved well-being, and greater relational harmony, may also be attainable through alternative strategies that do not require changing one’s view of the wrongfulness of an act.

Emotional reappraisal techniques, for instance, can help reduce the intensity of negative emotions tied to a memory, allowing individuals to move forward without needing to justify, excuse, or reinterpret the harm done. This is especially relevant in cases involving deep personal or structural trauma, where moral calls for forgiveness can place unfair emotional burdens on those who have been harmed. By shifting focus from moral resolution to emotional regulation, this approach opens up new possibilities for mental health interventions and justice practices that honor people’s experiences while still supporting healing.

Full article: https://dana.org/article/a-neuro-philosophical-approach-to-understanding-the-brain/

Photo credit: University of Notre Dame, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies (2025)

This text is an original work of its author Tom Delaney and was entirely composed without the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

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If your parish or faith community is seeking a deeper experience of healing, mercy, and spiritual renewal, Live and Forgive is here to help. To begin the conversation, email Live and Forgive presenter and facilitator Tom Delaney at tom@liveandforgive.com—Tom will be glad to connect with you in a spirit of welcome, respect, and shared faith.