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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Redemption
#5040785 - 12/09/05 06:13 PM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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The Tookie Williams case has already been discussed here in terms of the death penalty and whether or not it is justified. But here I'd like to discuss another aspect of this case, namely the idea of redemption. Can a person redeem themselves for such heinous crimes as this man has committed? If so, how is redemption achieved? Is it enough to be sorry for what one has done, and vow not to do it again? Can it be done in the way that Tookie Williams has done, by working to prevent others from repeating his mistakes? What is redemption?
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spud
I'm so fly.

Registered: 10/07/02
Posts: 44,410
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In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
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QuantumMeltdown
Space Monkey



Registered: 10/31/01
Posts: 4,962
Loc: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Last seen: 5 months, 9 days
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Go to confession?
-------------------- -QuantumMeltdown Total abstinence is so excellent a thing that it cannot be carried to too great an extent. In my passion for it I even carry it so far as to totally abstain from total abstinence itself. -Mark Twain "The time has come the walrus said, little oysters hide their heads, my Twain of thought is loosely bound I guess its time to Mark this down, Be good and you will be lonesome Be lonesome and you will be free Live a lie and you will live to regret it That's what livin' is to me That's what livin' is to me" Jimmy Buffett
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justAkid
Member of myCulture

Registered: 11/05/05
Posts: 323
Loc: The Present
Last seen: 13 years, 6 months
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Redemption is the ability to forgive yourself and the ability to forgive others for things they have committed against you.
I don't believe there is any kind of trade one can make to tip the "scale" toward redemption, only an attitude of redemtion and forgiveness.
IMO
-------------------- Trust thyself.
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JacquesCousteau
Being.


Registered: 06/10/03
Posts: 7,825
Loc: Everywhere, Everytime.
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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I believe that no matter how extreme the example, one can find redemption on a personal level.
Redemption as in an honest clearing of the conscience that is not manifest simply for the sake of appearing to be redeemed from the outside.
What it really comes down to is an act of self-forgiveness, which will only be applied if the individual feels true and deep remorse.
Because the self is the only real judge, it is an inevitability that redemption can occur no matter what limitations are enforced through physical reality.
This has little or nothing to do with whether or not an individual's IMAGE is redeemed in society's view.
It also has little or nothing to do with whether or not the individual will still be punished for his crimes by that society.
(my 2 cents)
As for whether or not such redemptions can be carried out through certain means (ie, working to prevent further crimes of the same type) is completely up to how harshly one has chosen to judge themselves.
The harder one self-judges, the harder it will be to redeem one's worth.
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Huehuecoyotl
Fading Slowly


Registered: 06/13/04
Posts: 10,685
Loc: On the Border
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Only the self can grant one redemption. No one else can do this for you. You must forgive yourself in order to take control and responsibility for your self. Only then is redemption valid. Anyone can find redemption, BUT their intent must be strong.
-------------------- "A warrior is a hunter. He calculates everything. That's control. Once his calculations are over, he acts. He lets go. That's abandon. A warrior is not a leaf at the mercy of the wind. No one can push him; no one can make him do things against himself or against his better judgment. A warrior is tuned to survive, and he survives in the best of all possible fashions." ― Carlos Castaneda
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