Is it so hard to forgive?

Question

Ask yourself this: If so-and-so had ALL knowledge, would they have done wrong?

It is imperfection that we must forgive, since we are all imperfect. The greatest challenge to our self is to forgive ignorance. We are all ignorant, in one way or another.
Is it so hard to forgive knowing this? Knowing that if that killer, that rapist, that hurtful person KNEW BETTER they'd make better actions?

Everyone deserves a second chance... and a third, fourth, etc. If not, how will we perfect? We may miss the mark the first 20 times. When you're a kid, and you fall. It's not right for your parents to be like, "That's the 10th time today! That's it, no more walking for you!"

And, it's not just mistakes we need to forgive. It's those who actually know better. But, those people don't KNOW BETTER. If they understood the world, people, consequences better... UNDERSTOOD, not just know, they'd be better.

Say someone molests a child. They may think, "Oh, so what, they will grow up feeling abused and have to cope." Well, maybe if they understood so much as to actually be in their shoes they would understand. I believe this to be honing the wheel of evolvement, or karma.

Some say the Leopard doesn't change his spots... well, that's too shallow. Spots are physical, and some physical things are hard to change, right? Is it not the physical body of the rapist that craves the person? The human body can be too much to cope with for some, and they become sexual deviants, thieves, molesters, killers.
These people should be forgiven, and can. I've been on the receiving end, and understand why. These people don't know better, and IF THEY DID they would have acted appropriately.
Jesus said to love thy neighbor as yourself. Well, put yourself in THEIR shoes! If you murdered someone, you'd want forgiveness. You'd deserve it.

Some people don't want forgiveness. They only fear punishment. They should especially be forgiven, because they are unable to cope with fear and do not know better.

Answer 1

I really believe they still would have for that is how we are without Jesus. Knowledge is just not enough and no matter how much people try to prove that its enough to have knowledge it just isn't.

Now I did notice that one person said a child molester should not be forgiven and well from personal experience to not forgive them is to doom yourself. For if ya don't then you stay hooked to what they did and it just remains this nightmare that never goes away. Yet to forgive takes turning to Jesus and admiting in myself I could not yet I will open the door and choose to forgive so you Jesus can bring that forgiveness within me that is not there. The choice then opens the door for Jesus to do the work that no one or nothing else can do to bring what we choose to do.

Its not about whether the other person would or not, it has happened what ever we are facing that needs to be forgiven and that is the issue. Yes I can choose not to yet what good will that do me or anyone else.

And then there comes that time when I will face the need to be forgiven. There it will be, staring me in the face. Something I don't deserve yet need and then I will know and understand.

Answer 2

Wow, I think this is probably the hardest question I have ever had to answer. I am terrible when it comes to holding grudges and not forgiving. I had been so used when I was younger that I pretty much lost my ability to trust, so when a person does something to hurt me, or those I love, they pretty much need to get a note signed by God to get my forgiveness. But, to make it worse, you had to ask the second question, and that is also a terrible problem I have, forgiving myself, and all the self loathing that goes with it. I guess it would be easier to forgive others, since I can be much harder on myself. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to really think on a question. Tammy

Answer 3

What a load!
Seriously, that rapist, that killer, that evil EVIL SOB deserves no forgiveness from us. Let them ask forgiveness of God when they see him. And if there is no God, let them feed the worms and fertilize the corn.
Evil may present a repentant face, but in my experience, the leopard does not change his spots.
Bottom line, they DO know better. They have the same access to knowledge and culture that any of us have. They just CHOOSE to be wicked because it is profitable, fun, pleasurable to them.
The best thing to give the "imperfect" (as you put it) is a lethal injection.
STAT.

Answer 4

Forgiveness is over-rated and usually meaningless.

Forgiveness is giving a person a second chance for doing something wrong to you. This is a good thing, especially if the person really tries to make amends and wants to get back into good standing with you. However, many people are just not worth forgiving. That doesn't mean you have to dwell on whatever they did to slight you. You do have to live on eventually and get over what they did. However, if the person really doesn't deserve a second chance and makes no movement to earn one, then you really have no reason to forgive the person, nor will the person even care in most cases.

Blanket forgiveness for all things for no reason is rather meaningless, sometimes dangerous, and almost always disingenuous.

Answer 5

Most people know right from wrong. Either they follow it that moment or they don't.
My forgiveness or lack thereof is not going to be of any use on the judgment day. They alone have to answer for their actions.
I'm a very forgiving person. But there are things that I refuse to entertain the notion of forgiving. Good thing that is left to a higher power!

Answer 6

They say you are suppose to forgive and forget. But I can't get past the pain that some assholes bring to others. An eye for an eye should be justice, but that won't bring back your loved one that fell victim to a brutal rape and beaten to death. Or those kidnappers that kill children in awful ways. No, I will not forgive. Regardless if they knew better or not. So the answer is yes it is so hard to forgive.

Answer 7

If we all had perfect knowledge, then things would be much simpler and the notion of regret would disappear.

As for whether a person would hurt someone given that they had perfect knowledge, my answer is yes. I believe there are some that hurt with full knowledge of the consequences and the impact of their actions.

Answer 8

We all know better. It is sheer selfishness that we do things that we know are wrong and maybe even the excitement of "getting away with it". I have a hard time forgiving, even on minor things. It is hard for me to let go because of either pride or the fact that every time I think of the "injustice" I get mad all over again. Maybe its pure selfishness on my part to want to satisfy my own desire for "justice". I cant really explain it in certain terms.

Answer 9

There are some situations and actions that are way too deep for you to forgive. If somebody goes out of their way to destroy my life, than no I would not forgive or forget. When you have a knife in your heart that won't come out you can't forgive.

Answer 10

Sometimes its ignorance. But dont some people still do it while knowing it is wrong.

I'm not saying forgiveness doesnt work but it isnt enough to prevent all criminals from doing it again.