Restorative justice: An answer to the call of the Gospel of St. Mark for service and reconciliation.

Source: (2011) International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 1(19):277-285.

Simply stated, the goal of Restorative Justice is a reconciliation of people. The reconciliation can occur on the interpersonal level, within the community, among nation-states, and ultimately, on the universal level. The broad umbrella of Restorative Justice affords the community, spiritual and secular, to engage in works which further the need for Social Justice. From Victim/Offender mediation, to teaching Conflict Transformation in schools, to peace making circles for community collaboration, the opportunities to engage in the restorative process are potentially endless. Considered innovative and new in the United States, Restorative Justice has deep and ancient roots in many cultures, past and present. And as it adapts to the changing world, it certainly has applications for setting the stage for future conflict transformation. To what extent is Restorative Justice an answer to the call of service and reconciliation based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of St. Mark? Long considered more than a recounting of the story of Christ, the Gospel of St. Mark is considered a call to action for Christians in this world as a preparation for the next. This paper is an overview of Restorative Justice coupled with an analysis of how much Restorative Justice can advance the expectations of Christians as delineated in the Gospel of St. Mark.(excerpt)