Atheism and forgiveness

[*Deidre*]

I really like what you're saying, Aral. And I agree -- If someone continues to bring me down, hurt me, break my trust, etc...then I feel such behavior is deliberate and the person is abusing the friendship or relationship. I had to sever ties with someone recently as his "sorry" just didn't mean anything. It was just something he uttered to get me trusting him again.

Life's hard sometimes.

---

I'm the first to admit that I readily cut people out of my life, but only for major transgressions. Like, when my best friend of eighteen years, aware of my suicidal tendencies and during a particularly awful bout, brought me a kitchen knife and told me she was praying that I'd kill myself. Or, the friend who had owed me $400 for about a year and told a mutual friend she had no plans to pay me back because she figured I had forgotten about it. Both of those examples show a severe lack of respect, so I have no need to have those people around anymore.

I have forgiven both of those people, but that doesn't mean I have to let them back in.

Yeah, um no I would not be letting these people back in. I'm sorry they hurt you. It just sucks in the worst of ways. I think the hardest thing for me to forgive but I have (it has just taken time) is when someone has humiliated me. By that I mean, lied to me and everyone knows it and then I somehow find out. Ughhh, that's a toughie for me.

But forgiveness is about letting go, healing and moving on FOR US. Doesn't mean we invite toxic people back into our lives to rent space.