Forgiveness

[ohmeoh]

Been thinking about forgiveness. I think it's not only about not punishing the other person but also being able have a hope that in they will come to see the error of their ways and subsequently change. That there is hope for them. It's the second bit I can struggle most with sometimes. Which isn't right, is it? Essentially it's a kind of despair.

Any thoughts?

@MaterDei an interesting post. I find it hard to accept that anyone is in Hell. If someone is 'born evil' then it's not their fault, so they shouldn't go to Hell. If someone has such a terrible life that it turns them 'evil' that is also not their fault, and it also would be unjust if they went to Hell. So who does go there?

Thank you for your reply @MaterDei. I read it before you withdrew it. Plenty of food for thought. I hope you are not worrying if there was something that was not quite in accordance with the Catholic faith as I think we all have to talk through these topics sometimes to get our heads round all there is to know on a topic.

Regarding culpability, I pretty much believe this is a moot point. We all are imperfect so it is not surprising that some fault in thinking or physiologically flaw will cause wrong thinking will cause wrong behaviour. Which includes unrepentance. Remember Jesus asking the Father to 'forgive them for they know not what they do'?

But how a unrepentant sinner can come into unity with God is another matter. And the possessing hope that they can be brought to repentance. So that's how I link forgiveness with hope. Hope that there can be unity, at least in the future.

@ohyouknowwhatshername,

"I find it hard to accept that anyone is in Hell. If someone is 'born evil' then it's not their fault, so they shouldn't go to Hell. If someone has such a terrible life that it turns them 'evil' that is also not their fault, and it also would be unjust if they went to Hell. So who does go there?"

I understand what you mean and feel this too. Heartbreaking isn't it? I do know theology is divided on the subject. Whether those who have no aspect of them which can be in unity with God simply die or whether they continue to suffer due to this is the main thing that seems to be in contention. I sincerely want to hope everyone can come into unity with God or a least a significant enough part of then can come into unity so as not to experience that kind of hellish suffering. But in the context of pride and unrepentance hope is difficult - at least from a human perspective.

As a subtext I do think it is marvellous how God can bring people to repentance over certain faults. For example, someone I know was pretty unrepentant with regards to overindulgence in boozy partying until they became more interested in a particular sport which they are good at. They didn't heed my worried warnings at all but the promise of better results in competition certainly has spurned them on! 😉 Not very flattering for me but the end result was the same. Amazing how things turn out. 🙂