Discussion Do people need religion to be forgiving?

[Hoppipolla]

I've been thinking about this recently.

Is it just me or are people in this society (including law enforcement) REALLY unforgiving?

I wonder if this is why so many religions spend so long on the idea of forgiveness and how important it is, because left to our own devices we seem to be very poor at it on average.

 

[SIR ETHNICCEL]

probably.
Religions encourage forgiveness if possible under the circumstances

 

[Saigon Depression]

Maybe.

I'm atheist, but I still tend to be quite forgiving to people (and I know I shouldn't be).

 

[Deleted member 36576]

No, in fact religion doesn't even make people forgiving.

 

[El Enemigo]

No

 

[Sheogorath]

Is it just me or are people in this society (including law enforcement) REALLY unforgiving?

I wonder if this is why so many religions spend so long on the idea of forgiveness and how important it is, because left to our own devices we seem to be very poor at it on average.

That's probably why, but I don't think religion is the only path to it.
You just need good mentoring which can come from good parenting.