Trump ally shot in Utah a few minutes ago

[beej]

I thought the memorial service for Charlie Kirk was great yesterday with all the speakers although I didn't like Stephen Millers message and I did not care for Trump's speech either. He missed another opportunity to close the division some and I was very disappointed in him.

I didn't get a chance to watch it, but I heard from some people who did and they said exactly the same thing.

[Del.]

I didn't get a chance to watch it, but I heard from some people who did and they said exactly the same thing.

It was very spiritual! Don Jr, Rubio, Hegseth and RFK Jr were excellent. Trump did say some good things but wandered off the theme of the day showed that he is not a forgiving person which to me showed one of his worst weaknesses. It was like a bad ending to a great movie.

[beej]

Pope John Paul II met with his would-be assassin in prison and forgave him
Ronald Reagan publicly forgave Don Hinkley jr
Robert Todd Lincoln wrote a letter to the brother of Wilkes Booth and told him, I hold nothing against your family
RFK jr visited Sirhan Sirhan in prison and advocated for his release
and now Erika Kirk publicly forgives her husband's assassin

Christians are not the same. In fact I would argue that you can measure a person's closeness to Christ by his willingness to forgive.

[neurosis]

Christians are not the same. In fact I would argue that you can measure a person's closeness to Christ by his willingness to forgive.

Is Stephen Miller a Christian? Because he didn't sound very forgiving. 

[beej]

Is Stephen Miller a Christian? Because he didn't sound very forgiving. 

I really don't know much about him, but I stand by what I said. you can measure a person's closeness to Christ by their ability to forgive.

[mowens]

You don't have to be a Christian to have the capacity or willingness to forgive.

[beej]

You don't have to be a Christian to have the capacity or willingness to forgive.

I would love to be proved wrong. If the world becomes more forgiving even as it rejects the teachings of Christ, I will recant my statement.

[mowens]

So, are you saying only Christians have the capacity and willingness to forgive?

[beej]

So, are you saying only Christians have the capacity and willingness to forgive?

I am saying that Christ, through grace, gives us that capacity. I believe that only Christ knows a person's heart. But when I see a person forgive, I see a closeness or a resemblance to Christ and I admire it.

[mowens]

Ok
I just know people with a tremendous capacity for forgiveness who don't necessarily consider themselves Christian.

[beej]

Ok
I just know people with a tremendous capacity for forgiveness who don't necessarily consider themselves Christian.

There are a lot of people on the fence as to whether Christianity is true. If a non-believer wants to hedge his bets, and try to get into heaven if there is one,  he should forgive others, with a simple prayer saying "God, I don't know if you are real, but I offer forgiveness to this person and hope you will reveal yourself to me through it."

See what happens, I bet you will be surprised.

[mowens]

They don't practice forgiveness because they want to get to heaven. They practice forgiveness because they know that the only way to live a life of peace and serenity is to avoiding holding on to resentments and practice acceptance and humility.

[beej]

They don't practice forgiveness because they want to get to heaven. They practice forgiveness because they know that the only way to live a life of peace and serenity is to avoiding holding on to resentments and practice acceptance and humility.

I see. I wonder if they learned forgiveness leads to a life of peace through greek and roman philosophy or or through the philosophers who were influenced by judeo-christian values.

[mowens]

No. They learned it through Bill Wilson and the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

[beej]

No. They learned it through Bill Wilson and the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Gotcha!

I wonder where Bill Wilson learned it. Was he an atheist?