Do atheists ever wrestle with the concept of forgiveness?

Forgiveness is something I can give to another... if I feel they deserve it...

I also have control over attempting to right any wrong I may have done to another...

But, I have no control over whether another will forgive me for my efforts...

So nope, I don't 'wrestle' with it... I simply do what I can...

If I wandered about worrying all the time that I might not get forgiven for something I didn't even know I did, I would be a basket case... as I said, I have no control over someone else forgiving me... especially imaginary beings...

I guess I don't know what you are trying to get across, Michael... but I've answered the best I can under the circumstances... 8^)

EDIT: I see my TD fairy is still with me, and it's still meaningless... LOL

IMHO

Here is the funny thing about that. If I want to be forgiven, I need to seek out the forgiveness of the person who I wronged. I feel bad about it, I apologize, and the person forgives me.

With religion, you need the forgiveness of a third party that was not involved. I did something bad, but God forgives me. How did God get into this? ho gave him the right to speak for the wronged party?

Some do, but I do not. If someone expresses their regret, requests forgiveness and takes positive action to repair or mitigate the damage, I have no issue forgiving them. The failure of another person to forgive me based on the same conditions is a problem for them, not me.

I am not sure what being Christian vs. Atheists has to do with forgiveness. Believing in god or not, doesn't give me the ability to want to forgive or be forgiven any differently.

I have forgiven many things in my life that a lot of people wouldn't and it isn't because of my faith, it's my own personal strength, this comes from with in. Not from god, the bible, religion or faith.

Forgiveness is an important social trait. No matter what God's you do or don't believe in, our ability to forgive keeps society from self destructing.

What is the definition of forgiveness. For me it is self deceiving. Where does one get the right to forgive? To forgive also means one is superior than others. I do not forgive at all.

No. I think it's abusive when Christians tell victims they need to forgive their abusers, or are more concerned about that, than about the horrific crimes people have committed against others. Or stopping them from committing them against other people (re: ministers & priests). It really, really bothers me.

I do think "second chances" and redemption are worthy goals. I don't think it's healthy to live your life consumed by anger...however, prioritizing forgiveness is bleeped up, imo.

Um... Atheists give and receive forgiveness... Forgiveness is not strictly a theist concept.

As an Evolutional Goodhist I use practice to take responsibility for all my sin , forgive myself for forgivable sin and use the energy of goodness to sin less , I recognise some sin is not forgivable and evolution of my consciousness will sort this out.

seek my answers

There is no Atheist handbook, you can forgive or not for any reason or no reason it's up to you.