(This text should be understood as written from within the frame of OP: I do not endorse it fully, I just accept the premise and infer conclusions)
The reason why extreme suffering and injustice exist is interpersonal justification of Goodness of Reality hypothesis: the first thing upon hearing it is to dismiss it as naive, romantic, squamish, lacking skin in the game. It is easy to forgive when you have never been wronged. Enduring extreme suffering gives the possibility to answer: “We suffered and we forgive, why can’t you?”
That touches on a view I’ve been holding for a while now. One often hears the phrase, those that forget the past are doomed to repeat it (or close to that). But it struck me one that that many seem to hold on to the past, never letting it go and so dooming themselves and everyone else to continued living in that past. When we’re never getting past the injustices of the past we keep them in the present and keep living them. I think this might be part of why we see many of the existing conflicts in the world—from the racial issues in the USA, the wars and strife in the Middle East, the escalating conflict between China and the west, its threats of forceful reunification of Taiwan, the ongoing conflict on the Korean penensula and probably a host of other cases in Africa and Central/South America.
Making it worse, the attachment to the past gives some levers to then manipulate behavior and actions of many for political or personal goals and purposes. I think if we could forgive the past in which none of us were actually alive and focused on solving the current problems, rather than addressing the crimes of people long dead peace might be a bit easier to achieve.
But I think the “We suffered and we forgive, why can’t you?” is not the way to present the idea.
I really like the directions that both of you are thinking in.
But I think the “We suffered and we forgive, why can’t you?” is not the way to present the idea.
I agree. I think of it more as like “We suffered and we forgave and found inner peace in doing so, and you can too, as unthinkable as that may seem to you”.
I think the turbo-charged version is “We suffered and we forgave, and we were ultimately grateful for the opportunity to do so, because it just so deeply nourishes our souls to know that we can inspire hope and inner peace in others going through what we had to go through.” I think Jesus alludes to this in the Sermon on the Mount:
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(This text should be understood as written from within the frame of OP: I do not endorse it fully, I just accept the premise and infer conclusions)
The reason why extreme suffering and injustice exist is interpersonal justification of Goodness of Reality hypothesis: the first thing upon hearing it is to dismiss it as naive, romantic, squamish, lacking skin in the game. It is easy to forgive when you have never been wronged. Enduring extreme suffering gives the possibility to answer: “We suffered and we forgive, why can’t you?”
That touches on a view I’ve been holding for a while now. One often hears the phrase, those that forget the past are doomed to repeat it (or close to that). But it struck me one that that many seem to hold on to the past, never letting it go and so dooming themselves and everyone else to continued living in that past. When we’re never getting past the injustices of the past we keep them in the present and keep living them. I think this might be part of why we see many of the existing conflicts in the world—from the racial issues in the USA, the wars and strife in the Middle East, the escalating conflict between China and the west, its threats of forceful reunification of Taiwan, the ongoing conflict on the Korean penensula and probably a host of other cases in Africa and Central/South America.
Making it worse, the attachment to the past gives some levers to then manipulate behavior and actions of many for political or personal goals and purposes. I think if we could forgive the past in which none of us were actually alive and focused on solving the current problems, rather than addressing the crimes of people long dead peace might be a bit easier to achieve.
But I think the “We suffered and we forgive, why can’t you?” is not the way to present the idea.
I really like the directions that both of you are thinking in.
I agree. I think of it more as like “We suffered and we forgave and found inner peace in doing so, and you can too, as unthinkable as that may seem to you”.
I think the turbo-charged version is “We suffered and we forgave, and we were ultimately grateful for the opportunity to do so, because it just so deeply nourishes our souls to know that we can inspire hope and inner peace in others going through what we had to go through.” I think Jesus alludes to this in the Sermon on the Mount: