Atonement is the act of doing something good to make up for an offense one has committed or harm one has done. Its purpose is to restore friendly relations with the offended person.
In theology, the word is generally used to describe an act that will bring a person or a people back to God. The act may be a present, good works, suffering, a prayer, an apology, or a special kind of offering. Christians generally regard the death of Jesus Christ on the cross as an atonement for the sins of all people. Jews set aside one day each year as a Day of Atonement. They call it Yom Kippur.
See also Scapegoat ; Yom Kippur .
