Is Forgiveness the Greatest Cure?

One of the greatest fictional stories about the power of forgiveness, in my opinion, is Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. A piece of work that shows what so-called “justice” can do to a society. For instance, a town losing a great mayor and largest employer because of a policeman seeking justice for justice’s sake.

This was of course set in the nineteenth century and we are much more civilised now. Or are we? You just have to look at the papers of today to see people out for blood, wishing to right wrongs by more wrongs (although legal wrongs) and are seemingly never satisfied. Why? Satisfaction is never achieved via revenge; revenge is a hollow victory for those who are wronged. Do any of the superheroes lose their warped personalities once their original wrong has been avenged?

The only way to lose the angst, the terror and the victimisation of a wrong is to forgive the wrongdoer. This does not mean condone the action, nor does it mean let the wrongdoer off without consequence. But to simply cast sentence as revenge rather than consequence does not do any party any favours.

If we had a world that forgiveness was the norm most the psychiatrists would be out of work as there would no longer be a “past” to be rid of. 2000 years ago this was promoted by a Jewish man, a man who should know, as he was also God and one who was at the creation of mankind. He knew what made us tick, and he knew what the answer was that we have been searching for before and after his appearance on Earth.

Whether you are a Christian or not, the fact remains, forgiveness is the key to a happier life. Many non-Christian self-help courses will tell you the same thing - If you don’t forgive it is you who is punished, not the wrongdoer.

Do you think it is the cure all I say it is? What are your honest views on forgiving wrong-doers and today's culture of revenge? I would be interested to know.