Is forgiveness an obligation, an opportunity, a privilege, self-care, inevitable, or simply an option?

Question

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Please state your faith/non-faith tradition.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 1

Forgiveness really is a personal choice but to forgive will make you a happier person! I know people who say they hold a grudge for years and they sure seem to be unhappy most of the time. We all make mistakes and if we want to be forgiven, we must also forgive.
I forgive as God has forgiven.

Answer 2

I'm a Deist, but my beliefs are very close to most atheists... don't really have time to go into it. But needless to say I don't believe in the supernatural, but I do believe human beings have some important connection with spirituality... even if it is not real. I mean, who can really say for certain.

k, that being said, I believe that forgiveness is an opportunity. If your the one seeking forgiveness, then what your really doing is seeking! Just that alone means your trying to evaluate yourself on an ethical level, your being conscientious of how something you did might have effected someone else, or yourself in a negative way. Really if you look at it that way, then seeking forgiveness for something you've done is an opportunity to better yourself and find reconciliation for when you did something stupid.

And being forgiving is usually a good way to set yourself apart from revenge, bitterness, and depression. Now because of my particular believes I don't think forgiveness necessarily constitutes mercy. If it's something like a serious crime then I feel justice should be held to somewhat of a brutal level... but I don't think that excludes forgiveness.

In that way I think being forgiving is also an opportunity. I don't think that being forgiving should be a sacrifice, if you don't mean in it, don't forgive. If that's the only place for you to be then fine, just don't lie to yourself about it. But forgiving someone else is an act of truth and acceptance. The truth about any act, is that it happened in the past and you can't change that no matter how hard you wish. So if you can accept that, then the forgiving the person creates the opportunity to make things better and repair damage done. If you don't forgive, then it most likely won't get better, and you'll then be taking a path which will tend towards bitter feelings and resentment.

As human beings I think we're often bitter about our lot in life, our bills, we're bitter about the guy with road rage, we resent the fact that there wasn't a holiday bonus this year. And really if that's what you harbor, if that's the kind of virtue you allow to grow in your life, then your not accepting or believing that things could be better. Or that if you were a more forgiving person it might make you feel better about yourself. It's really an opportunity to change your attitude when people mistreat you, or who are indifferent to your feelings. If you don't forgive them, then your letting them hurt your more. And I think, that's a fact.

Answer 3

Ah, a good question. Forgiveness is as natural as breathing. Frequently I transgress....I am a spirit form a far dimension in a body who doesn't always have the wherewith all to be in the spaciousness, that I know so well inside, in every moment. My inner life is earthed, but to a degree, and especially in my art and writing, in my wisdom etc. Yet in all this, I meet frustration when the world is slower than the realms, and I fight it sometimes. Forgiveness is our birthright to give and to receive. Should I not be forgiven by someone, it is ok because my God/Source does not judge us in our mortal coil. We are all free. Forgiveness is our essential nature.....it is done regardless of our outer, bodily awkwardness of expression on the earth plane. Judging belongs to the weak not the strong.

Answer 4

As I understand my Buddhist practice it is an obligation, opportunity, privilege and self-care as this is one of many actions that lead to enlightenment when our mind is conditioned to forgive freely and easily. Forgiveness for us is really about the other person. If we embrace our teachings we don't hold feelings or thoughts that would necessitate having to forgive ~ that is, we don't need someone to ask for *our* forgiveness. We don't harbor thoughts and feelings that would normally lead to the act of someone needing our forgiveness. If someone else needed our forgiveness, we give it. We also freely ask for forgiveness if we feel we may have offended someone, regardless of "fault".

I'm certainly far from perfect ~ this just reflects my beliefs. You will see me eff up around here and IRL. There is a reason Buddhism is called a philosophical "practice". ;)

I hope that makes sense.

Answer 5

I think forgiveness is both an opportunity AND an option ... :)

It is an OPPORTUNITY to forgive someone who may have done you wrong, unintentionally and allows us to move on from a painful situation .... :)

However, I also think in some situations, it is also an OPTION. We have the choice to either forgive or not to forgive ..... and if someone continues to wrong you, over, and over, and OVER again, perhaps they are undeserving of forgiveness.

It is not necessary that you "hold a grudge" agianst them, but rather do not allow them in your life. It is a privilege being allowed in someone's life .... but if you have hurt me again, and again... then you will not be allowed to be a part of my life any longer.
:)

Answer 6

Forgiveness is something you do for yourself. No one runs around (except maybe those in prison) hoping someone will forgive them of something. If you forgive someone, you feel better. The other person may or may not feel better. If you don't forgive someone, it'll eat at you for decades if you let it, the other person won't have given it a second thought. But you can't force forgiveness, it's a process that you have to work.

I am Buddhist/Taoist

Answer 7

Non-denominational Christian here. It's an obligation, an opportunity, self-care, and option.

Privilege is omitted due to the fact that in Christian faith, Gods forgiveness is through grace.

Inevitability is omitted simply because unless we accept Gods gift of grace we may not be forgiven of our sins.

Answer 8

Forgiveness is the closest thing to a "life eraser" we have. It is essential because none of us is perfect.

I agree with you on some.

Obligation: because I am commanded to forgive, because Jesus forgave others, but most importantly (to me) He forgave ME. I am expected to forgive because I am forgiven.

Opportunity/Privilege: because I want to be like Jesus as much as possible.

Self-Care: because it has little to do with the other person. It has more to do with freeing up resentment within yourself so you can use that energy another way.

NOT inevitable in my opinion: If left to my own devices (without working at it) I would just be bitter, I'm convinced of this.

An option: Yes, because we have free will.

I find great comfort in knowing that there is a lot of crossover between matters of faith, matters of mental health, and matters of daily living...so many things are good for you across the board. When I am in an attitude of forgiveness, my God seems closer, my mind seems clearer, and my day goes better.

Answer 9

Forgivness is something that I do to let go of the pain that someone has inflicted upon me and mine. Holding on to that pain just makes it harder for you to move on, and when you live in a family unit, what affects your happiness, affects their's. Its just a way to completely forget and move on with your life. It is an opportunity, self-care, and simply an option, in my opinion.
Christian/Wiccan(witch)

Answer 10

Forgiveness; Should You harbor Hate;That is an Invatation for demonic, stronghold to take lodgeing in You;

Forgive those that tresspass against You;
as You" God" forgive Me;
How can You have Your Sin forgiven if you don't
forgive others;
An Obligation;

Answer 11

Self-care, and nothing more.

Forgiveness buds not with fanfare of epiphany, but with anger slowly packing its bags and creeping away into the silence of the night.