Atheism and forgiveness

[Rahul]

That's because they are following set rules that are laid down and have to be adhered to.

You know, the law.

Except if you're a cute girl. Then you get warnings.

Guys just get a ticket.

I've known lots of chicks that get off with warnings.

[Marvin]

I don't believe in forgiveness, ye obviously but I doubt it's utility.

So if you give 'em a quick short, sharp, shock, they won't do it again.
Dig it?

[FlyingNarwhal]

That's because they are following set rules that are laid down and have to be adhered to.

You know, the law.

Except if you're a cute girl. Then you get warnings.

Guys just get a ticket.

I've known lots of chicks that get off with warnings.

I got t-boned by a jeep full of drunk girls coming out of a bar parking lot. Cop just flirted with them and didn't arrest or fine the driver at all. But he did threaten to arrest me when I questioned why he was letting them go without any kind of consequence.

---

As far as forgiveness goes, follow your gut. Generally I don't fuck around. I'm a forgiving person with small things, unless I see a repeating pattern. But if you do something real fucked up to me I just cut you off completely. I won't even give you the courtesy of telling you that I don't want to talk to you anymore. You text me, I don't respond. You call me, I don't answer. You come by my place, I act as if I've never met you. I ain't got time to be angry at someone, just get out of my life.

I've taken a few people off death row, but only if I think that they have changed. And even then there is a very short leash.

[*Deidre*]

When it comes to speeding, breaking the law, etc...if you pay the consequences, I wouldn't look at that as you weren't "forgiven," but that's just our justice system and we have laws for a reason. Consequences aren't always a bad thing; it can mean that you need to learn something and maybe if someone is too easy on you, you might not learn the lesson.

I have friends who if they have offended me or someone in the group, they are quick to apologize, and because they value the friendship, they change. But I used to have a friend who rarely apologized and always justified her behavior and now, we are no longer close.

For me to forgive, AND let a person back into my life, I have to see that they've changed. If not, why should I risk getting hurt by them again?

It's not cut and dry but I tend to evaluate it person to person. I used to be a doormat for everyone , just accepting any lame excuses for bad treatment.

[ManMachine]

A few years ago, I gradually started departing from my Christian beliefs. I never really chose a position though, so to speak. Now, I consider myself atheist agnostic. My question is, for those here who are atheists or atheist agnostic, how do you deal with the issue of forgiveness? Christianity teaches to always be forgiving people who hurt you. To a fault. I accepted so many people into my life who hurt me over and over, and I look back and they didn't deserve my forgiveness or friendship. Now that I don't follow any religion, I don't know how to really view the act of forgiveness anymore? I believe that it is necessary for our own growth and to release ourselves from harboring resentment. But beyond that, does everyone deserve our forgiveness?

Just wondering how some of you view forgiveness?

Forgiveness, even in Christian terms, is all about power and justifying any power shift that results, usually as an act of morality or ethics.

There are many permutations, but ultimately your decision is a strategic decision. Large or small, you have to be sure you can live with the power shift that results.



MM