Turning the other cheek, how much forgiveness do you have in you? if given the opportunity can you forgive mass murders? Rapist? criminals of even the most heinous crime? or is there a capacity on forgiveness, should those who seek it be forgiven? if some one proclaimed their sins to you as a human to another human with all dogmatic factors aside, can you forgive without religious principles?

forgiving is the easy part, it's forgetting that rarely happens...and actually, remembering is what makes the lessons learned.

Forgiveness for me involves 2 parts. 1st, the severity(sp?) of the offense. 2nd, does the offender actually do something to fix it. Or at least try. Sincerely.

For me, some things can never be forgiven. For instance, that mom that sold her 5yr old little girl into sexual slavery (heard about it on the news). I'm thinking death by slow torture for that mom and the buyer is still too merciful.
But hey, that's me. Thinking children should all be protected, wanted, and cherished.

I think forgiveness is a cheesy way to get out of something.

I don't believe in forgiveness, and I don't forget.

Forgiveness comes natural to me because the alternative is carrying around baggage, which is no option. Forgiveness is a gift to myself, not my offender.

I have an unusually high degree of empathy....I am able to feel what others feel. Forgiveness is sometimes for me...sometimes for the one no one else is able to forgive.

An eye for an eye I say.

what do you mean by cheesy? for example if you broke my cup and i forgave you, is that cheesy? or should i call forth the might of a thousand army to wage an endless war of vengeance, fueled by the blood of our linage. to me that sounds more cheesy :P, but to be consistent i think we should steer clear of the "well.. it depends on what they did", regardless of the degree, compassion shouldn't be measurable. i personally i have a friend who stole from, who, as much i want to forgive, but just can't bring my self to do.

leaves every one blind, i don't think offering physiological distress to prevent undesirable actions has ever prevented anything. but i guess its the most logical approach.

Well said and most people don't realize that.

Forgiving others is for me to make my life easier because I don't want the burden of carrying grudges, being bitter, etc.

And from the hoops some of these people on here will make you go through, I wouldn't want their forgiveness anyway.

i think there is a confusion between forgiveness and indifference.

I do not know how to forgive and I do not know how to forget .
I only know my rule : two eyes for one eye and two teeth for one tooth . It always gave me much headache but victory always felt so good .

The scriptures for those who believe should be plain here..Blessings of Shalom...Miles

Matt 6:14-15

14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
NKJV

Heb 8:12
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
NKJV

Matt 5:46-6:1
6 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect , just as your Father in heaven is perfect .


NKJV

If their apology is sincere, yes.

I never said I was trying to prevent anything.

Sorry, that's small scale. One cup isn't a problem. If you broke several cups I wouldn't let you use any more of mine. Bring your own.

Someone hitting someone, no. Someone stealing from me, no. Someone cheating on someone, no. Someone killing someone, no. No forgiveness. We claim to be humans, then act like it. We all know that it is wrong, so don't do it.

I don't think I want to bear the burden of not forgiving someone. It does me more harm. If im not forgiving Im resenting and you know what they say about resentments...Resentments are like drinking poison and hopes that the other person dies.
Also the other person will probably forget.
On the more serious matter of murder or any of that I really can't say how I would react except at the beginning

In the Christian faith the teaching is to forgive, you do not have to accept, approve, or believe it was ok for someone to commit a heinous crime.

Id like to add, that it also doesnt mean that person is freed of the consequences of their actions. If someone broke all my dishes, I would forgive them but I would LEARN the lesson that maybe I should not let them use my dishes.

That's only for people who fixate on something. Then resentment and the physical and emotional build-up can cause harm.

I don't resent, I just won't deal with them again. If they ask why, I'll tell them and send them on their merry way. I don't need anyone so badly that I would tolerate their abuse.

Unfortunately, to many people believe that if they are forgiven, they are no longer responsible. I think "forgiveness" is tossed out there way to much, much like "love" is. It's cheap, it's easy, everyone can do it, and thus, it has no meaning.