Forgiveness

Every injustice forces us to remember. Forgetting would be an act of betrayal against those who suffered. The real challenge, however, isn't remembering—it's resisting the urge to settle the score. Revenge is a dead end; it kills any chance of a fresh start and keeps the perpetrator tethered to their crimes and the wreckage they left behind.

By choosing to forgive, we actually protect ourselves from the rot of hatred and the slow suicide of holding onto bitterness. It’s about mental survival. We forgive so our enemies don't get to finish us off spiritually; we refuse to let their toxicity become our identity. Forgiveness lets us turn our gaze toward something better and move away from the darkness. It provides a certain kind of spiritual freedom. You can't extinguish hate with more hate, and you can't erase an insult with another insult. Only forgiveness works. Our worst enemies are actually our own malice and inhumanity, and the only way out is through mutual forgiveness—accepting and granting it. Evil can only be defeated if we start forgiving one another. We can clear our consciences by finding peace, even if it's only in our hearts, while leaving the actual judgment of the enemy and their actions to God.

Of course, all this sounds like hollow rhetoric if we can't actually pull it off in the real world. It’s easy enough to overlook a petty slight, but there are some intentional evils out there that stay with you, making true forgiveness feel almost impossible no matter how hard you try.

What’s your take on this?

Here are a few quotes, though they certainly don't all agree:

"When someone hurts us deeply, we only truly recover once we have forgiven."
Alan Paton

"If you're going to strike a child, let it be in a fit of rage, even if it leaves them bruised. A cold, calculated blow is neither forgivable nor should it ever be."
George Bernard Shaw

"I hope the work of the Commission will open wounds just enough to clean them, preventing them from festering. We can't be superficial and pretend the past is buried, because it isn't; it follows us. True reconciliation is never cheap, because it's built on forgiveness, which is costly. And forgiveness depends on remorse, which relies on acknowledging wrongdoing and uncovering the truth. You cannot forgive what you do not know."
Desmond Tutu (From Tutu's speech upon his appointment as Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on November 30, 1995)

"When I hate, I lose something of myself; when I love, I am enriched by what I love. Forgiveness is reclaiming lost property—misanthropy is just a slow form of suicide; egoism is the greatest misery a soul can endure."
Friedrich von Schiller

"Ultimately, I won't have a mother embrace the tormentor who ordered the dogs to tear her son apart! She must not forgive him! If she chooses to, let her forgive him for her own sake, to forgive the tormentor for the immense maternal suffering he caused. But she has no right to forgive the suffering of her torn child, and she shouldn't forgive the tormentor even if the child themselves were to offer it! If that is the case, and they cannot forgive, where is the harmony? Is there anyone in the whole world who could or should have the right to forgive?"
Fyodor Dostoevsky (The Brothers Karamazov)

"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names."
John F. Kennedy

"He who forgives a crime becomes an accomplice to it."
Voltaire

Sorry, but don't you dare forget

Ultimately, a mother cannot be expected to embrace the tormentor who ordered her son to be torn apart by dogs. She shouldn't have to forgive him. If she chooses, she may forgive him on her own behalf, perhaps to ease the weight of her own immense suffering—but the loss of her child? No one can demand she forgive that, nor should she, even if the child themselves were capable of such mercy. If we accept that some things are unforgivable, where does that leave harmony? Is there truly any being in this entire world who possesses the right to grant forgiveness?
Fyodor Dostoevsky (The Brothers Karamazov)

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

John F. Kennedy

To forgive an evil act is to become an accomplice to it.."
Voltaire Quote

Drew Flores3 Asks:
Forgive me, but please don't forget.

That isn't Christian doctrine—it sounds more like something from Islam or a similar faith. An eye for an eye—a tooth for a tooth. But that is nothing more than an ego game; such a way leads neither to true victory, nor to spiritual liberation, nor to the overcoming of evil.

All of this can only be achieved through Christian means. Forgiveness. I don't mean to sound pretentious; it is simply the truth. This is the only ultimate spiritual law that sets the sinner free.

Forgive, let go, forget... It’s done and dusted—as if it never even happened.

Of course, just like any other unwritten spiritual laws, one can certainly follow them. Through the cultivation of the spirit.I am not seeking anything else—not our emotional biases or our own resonances, such as the deceptions of the ego.

Susan Price30 said:

Ultimately, a mother cannot be expected to embrace the tormentor who ordered her son to be torn apart by dogs. She shouldn't have to forgive him. If she chooses, she may forgive him on her own behalf, perhaps to ease the weight of her own immense suffering—but the loss of her child? No one can demand she forgive that, nor should she, even if the child themselves were capable of such mercy. If we accept that some things are unforgivable, where does that leave harmony? Is there truly any being in this entire world who possesses the right to grant forgiveness?
Fyodor Dostoevsky (The Brothers Karamazov)

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

John F. Kennedy

To forgive an evil act is to become an accomplice to it.."
Voltaire Quote

Drew Flores3 Asks:
Forgive me, but please don't forget.

That isn't Christian doctrine—it sounds more like something from Islam or a similar faith. An eye for an eye—a tooth for a tooth. But that is nothing more than an ego game; such a way leads neither to true victory, nor to spiritual liberation, nor to the overcoming of evil.

All of this can only be achieved through Christian means. Forgiveness. I don't mean to sound pretentious; it is simply the truth. This is the only ultimate spiritual law that sets the sinner free.

Forgive, let go, forget... It’s done and dusted—as if it never even happened.

Of course, just like any other unwritten spiritual laws, one can certainly follow them. Through the cultivation of the spirit.I am not seeking anything else—not our emotional biases or our own resonances, such as the deceptions of the ego.

But don't you think that if you truly forget, you might just end up reliving the exact same experience? Speaking from my own life—and I'm not usually one to hold a grudge—I've found myself forgiving someone and forgetting their insults and betrayals, only to have them pull the same stunt again. Wouldn't it be better to simply accept people for who they are, while remaining aware of their nature? They might change, sure, but the experience should still teach us something. Isn't it enough to refuse to bind ourselves to the evil done to us, while letting go of the bitterness, the hurt, and the urge for revenge?

Jerry King11 said:But don't you think that if you truly forget, you might just end up reliving the exact same experience? Speaking from my own life—and I'm not usually one to hold a grudge—I've found myself forgiving someone and forgetting their insults and betrayals, only to have them pull the same stunt again. Wouldn't it be better to simply accept people for who they are, while remaining aware of their nature? They might change, sure, but the experience should still teach us something. Isn't it enough to refuse to bind ourselves to the evil done to us, while letting go of the bitterness, the hurt, and the urge for revenge?

Of course, but if that person isn't mindful of their actions—if they are doing it intentionally or simply making no effort to change their behavior—then it is best to create some distance🙂 because Jesus' teaching applies here...why would we cast our pearls before swine?...

If we are talking about someone we share our lives with and love, yet we constantly experience being hurt by them—what does that actually say about their character?🤷

Susan Price30 said:

Ultimately, a mother cannot be expected to embrace the tormentor who ordered her son to be torn apart by dogs. She shouldn't have to forgive him. If she chooses, she may forgive him on her own behalf, perhaps to ease the weight of her own immense suffering—but the loss of her child? No one can demand she forgive that, nor should she, even if the child themselves were capable of such mercy. If we accept that some things are unforgivable, where does that leave harmony? Is there truly any being in this entire world who possesses the right to grant forgiveness?
Fyodor Dostoevsky (The Brothers Karamazov)

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

John F. Kennedy

To forgive an evil act is to become an accomplice to it.."
Voltaire Quote

Drew Flores3 Asks:
Forgive me, but please don't forget.

That isn't Christian doctrine—it sounds more like something from Islam or a similar faith. An eye for an eye—a tooth for a tooth. But that is nothing more than an ego game; such a way leads neither to true victory, nor to spiritual liberation, nor to the overcoming of evil.

All of this can only be achieved through Christian means. Forgiveness. I don't mean to sound pretentious; it is simply the truth. This is the only ultimate spiritual law that sets the sinner free.

Forgive, let go, forget... It’s done and dusted—as if it never even happened.

Of course, just like any other unwritten spiritual laws, one can certainly follow them. Through the cultivation of the spirit.I am not seeking anything else—not our emotional biases or our own resonances, such as the deceptions of the ego.

Ouch... that "Christian" forgiveness of yours actually hurts.

Drew Flores3 said:Ouch... that "Christian" forgiveness of yours actually hurts.

🤣 I wasn't even responding to you... you aren't central to this.😍 To me (and I assume a few others), the subject itself is absolutely fascinating..

Susan Price30 said:Of course, but if that person isn't mindful of their actions—if they are doing it intentionally or simply making no effort to change their behavior—then it is best to create some distance🙂 because Jesus' teaching applies here...why would we cast our pearls before swine?...

If we are talking about someone we share our lives with and love, yet we constantly experience being hurt by them—what does that actually say about their character?🤷

Maybe that approach works for part of your private life, but there are political situations and other scenarios where you can't just walk away from the perpetrator. If we didn't step in when people tried to gloss over historical atrocities, we wouldn't be able to learn from them, protect ourselves, or even evolve ourselves... as you put it, finding forgiveness within ourselves...

Even in our own lives, there are people who cause us pain sometimes, but they also have qualities that make us unwilling to cut them out entirely. So, we have to stay guarded and keep our wits about us... and then there are those situations where avoidance isn't an option, leaving us with nothing but the choice to create some internal distance...

Susan Price30 said:Choosing to be free—to break away from those kinds of chains—is a massive decision. It’s crucial to realize that when someone sins, the victim often ends up judging not just the evil itself, but their own reaction to it too... by forgiving others, we are essentially granting ourselves that same mercy. 🙂

And we have to understand that forgiveness isn't saying, "It's fine that you hurt me". It’s never about justifying evil; it’s simply about finding freedom from it, both for ourselves and for those around us.

Yeah, that’s an interesting and vital point. We often find ourselves blaming ourselves for why someone would act maliciously in the first place, wondering if we somehow invited it or deserved it...

I stumbled upon this little snippet from Jorge Luis Borges: "Abel and Cain meet on the other side. Cain asks Abel, 'Have you forgiven me?' — 'What does it matter?' Abel replies. 'But I killed you,' says Cain. 'I don't really remember,' answers Abel."

Jerry King11 said:I stumbled upon this little snippet from Jorge Luis Borges: "Abel and Cain meet on the other side. Cain asks Abel, 'Have you forgiven me?' — 'What does it matter?' Abel replies. 'But I killed you,' says Cain. 'I don't really remember,' answers Abel."

👍

Jerry King11 said:Yeah, that’s an interesting and vital point. We often find ourselves blaming ourselves for why someone would act maliciously in the first place, wondering if we somehow invited it or deserved it...

Yeah, that’s an interesting and pretty vital point. It happens where we end up blaming ourselves for why something bad happened to us in the first place, wondering if we somehow deserved it...[/I]
if we're blaming ourselves for some evil done to us when we aren't actually at fault, then we need to deal with that "imposed" guilt through logic, rather than relying on some imaginary act of forgiving the other person (which is supposed to forgive ourselves in the process)😲

First, you have to realize for yourself that you aren't guilty; after that, if someone wants to forgive the other person, they can do whatever they want—forgive or let go, it doesn't matter much

that bolded part above is honestly pathetic, and I'm trying to keep my language civil here, but it's just a desperate attempt to equate the victim with the perpetrator

anyway, where did that post go? 🤷

Sandra Parker3 said:Yeah, that’s an interesting and pretty vital point. It happens where we end up blaming ourselves for why something bad happened to us in the first place, wondering if we somehow deserved it...[/I]

if we're blaming ourselves for some evil done to us when we aren't actually at fault, then we need to deal with that "imposed" guilt through logic, rather than relying on some imaginary act of forgiving the other person (which is supposed to forgive ourselves in the process)😲

First, you have to realize for yourself that you aren't guilty; after that, if someone wants to forgive the other person, they can do whatever they want—forgive or let go, it doesn't matter much

that bolded part above is honestly pathetic, and I'm trying to keep my language civil here, but it's just a desperate attempt to equate the victim with the perpetrator

anyway, where did that post go? 🤷
if we're blaming ourselves for some evil done to us when we aren't actually at fault, then we need to deal with that "imposed" guilt through logic, rather than relying on some imaginary act of forgiving the other person (which is supposed to forgive ourselves in the process)😲

First, you have to realize for yourself that you aren't guilty; after that, if someone wants to forgive the other person, they can do whatever they want—forgive or let go, it doesn't matter much

that bolded part above is honestly pathetic, and I'm trying to keep my language civil here, but it's just a desperate attempt to equate the victim with the perpetrator

anyway, where did that post go? 🤷
if we're blaming ourselves for some evil done to us when we aren't actually at fault, then we need to deal with that "imposed" guilt through logic, rather than relying on some imaginary act of forgiving the other person (which is supposed to forgive ourselves in the process)😲

First, you have to realize for yourself that you aren't guilty; after that, if someone wants to forgive the other person, they can do whatever they want—forgive or let go, it doesn't matter much

that bolded part above is honestly pathetic, and I'm trying to keep my language civil here, but it's just a desperate attempt to equate the victim with the perpetrator

anyway, where did that post go? 🤷
I don't know, maybe Susan Price30 thought otherwise and just deleted it. 🤷 Personally, I've often wondered if, even when you're the victim of a crime, you might ask yourself why it happened to you "karmically"—what drew that suffering or that specific person into your life in the first place... I can't shake the feeling that nothing happens by pure accident. Even though the perpetrator remains the perpetrator and their evil stays with them, why did you find yourself in the position of the victim to begin with? People ask "Why me?" all the time. Maybe it has nothing to do with the culprit; maybe they were just the medium through which evil reached you. Perhaps your own lifestyle or choices triggered that landslide, or maybe it's a way for you to change yourself. That doesn't absolve the perpetrator of their guilt, obviously... It's just a question of meaning.

What was written above in bold is pathetic—to put it mildly. It’s an attempt to equate the victim with the perpetrator.

It certainly doesn't equate them; rather, it states exactly what is written—by forgiving (releasing) others, we forgive (release) ourselves as well.

(Of course, there are different situations, but generally speaking this holds true.)

And often, this also applies: someone who finds it difficult to forgive themselves will find it just as difficult to forgive others.

Susan Price30 said:Of course, but if that person isn't mindful of their actions—if they are doing it intentionally or simply making no effort to change their behavior—then it is best to create some distance🙂 because Jesus' teaching applies here...why would we cast our pearls before swine?...

If we are talking about someone we share our lives with and love, yet we constantly experience being hurt by them—what does that actually say about their character?🤷

I'm no expert or anything... but I think you might have your history mixed up. That whole "pearls before swine" thing actually refers to an event from way before Jesus showed up.

if we're talking about someone we share our lives with—someone we actually love—and they just keep hurting us over and over again, what does that say about them?🤷

It doesn't say much about them, really... but it says a lot about the person putting up with it. 🙂

Jerry King11 said:if we're blaming ourselves for some evil done to us when we aren't actually at fault, then we need to deal with that "imposed" guilt through logic, rather than relying on some imaginary act of forgiving the other person (which is supposed to forgive ourselves in the process)😲

First, you have to realize for yourself that you aren't guilty; after that, if someone wants to forgive the other person, they can do whatever they want—forgive or let go, it doesn't matter much

that bolded part above is honestly pathetic, and I'm trying to keep my language civil here, but it's just a desperate attempt to equate the victim with the perpetrator

anyway, where did that post go? 🤷

if we're blaming ourselves for some evil done to us when we aren't actually at fault, then we need to deal with that "imposed" guilt through logic, rather than relying on some imaginary act of forgiving the other person (which is supposed to forgive ourselves in the process)😲

First, you have to realize for yourself that you aren't guilty; after that, if someone wants to forgive the other person, they can do whatever they want—forgive or let go, it doesn't matter much

that bolded part above is honestly pathetic, and I'm trying to keep my language civil here, but it's just a desperate attempt to equate the victim with the perpetrator

anyway, where did that post go? 🤷
I don't know, maybe Susan Price30 thought otherwise and just deleted it. 🤷 Personally, I've often wondered if, even when you're the victim of a crime, you might ask yourself why it happened to you "karmically"—what drew that suffering or that specific person into your life in the first place... I can't shake the feeling that nothing happens by pure accident. Even though the perpetrator remains the perpetrator and their evil stays with them, why did you find yourself in the position of the victim to begin with? People ask "Why me?" all the time. Maybe it has nothing to do with the culprit; maybe they were just the medium through which evil reached you. Perhaps your own lifestyle or choices triggered that landslide, or maybe it's a way for you to change yourself. That doesn't absolve the perpetrator of their guilt, obviously... It's just a question of meaning.
I don't know, maybe Susan Price30 thought otherwise and just deleted it. 🤷 Personally, I've often wondered if, even when you're the victim of a crime, you might ask yourself why it happened to you "karmically"—what drew that suffering or that specific person into your life in the first place... I can't shake the feeling that nothing happens by pure accident. Even though the perpetrator remains the perpetrator and their evil stays with them, why did you find yourself in the position of the victim to begin with? People ask "Why me?" all the time. Maybe it has nothing to do with the culprit; maybe they were just the medium through which evil reached you. Perhaps your own lifestyle or choices triggered that landslide, or maybe it's a way for you to change yourself. That doesn't absolve the perpetrator of their guilt, obviously... It's just a question of meaning.
There is a lot of truth in this, honestly, a whole lot.👍

Drew Flores3 said:I'm no expert or anything... but I think you might have your history mixed up. That whole "pearls before swine" thing actually refers to an event from way before Jesus showed up.

if we're talking about someone we share our lives with—someone we actually love—and they just keep hurting us over and over again, what does that say about them?🤷

It doesn't say much about them, really... but it says a lot about the person putting up with it. 🙂
if we're talking about someone we share our lives with—someone we actually love—and they just keep hurting us over and over again, what does that say about them?🤷

It doesn't say much about them, really... but it says a lot about the person putting up with it. 🙂
if we're talking about someone we share our lives with—someone we actually love—and they just keep hurting us over and over again, what does that say about them?🤷

It doesn't say much about them, really... but it says a lot about the person putting up with it. 🙂

So, what subject do you actually know well?😁:

It refers to Jesus' teachings in the Gospel according to Matthew, which anyone who has even briefly opened the Bible would know.🤷

Matthew 7

1 'Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

4 How can you tell your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when there is a plank in your own?

5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

6 Do not give what is holy to dogs; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

he continues:

The Golden Rule

12'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is the essence of all Moses' law and the prophets.'

The Narrow Path

13'Enter through the narrow gate! For wide are the gates and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many are the ones who travel it.'

14'How narrow the gate and how constricted the path that leads to life! Few are the ones who find it.'

The Parable of the Tree and Its Fruit

15'Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are ravenous wolves.'

16'You will recognize them by their fruit. Can grapes be harvested from thorns, or figs from thistles?'

17'A good tree produces good fruit, just as a bad tree produces bad fruit.'

18'Neither can a good tree bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.'

19'Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.'

20'So, you will know them by their fruit.'

True Disciples

21'Not everyone who calls me "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my heavenly Father.'

22'On judgment day, many will say to me: "Lord, Lord! Did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not use your name to cast out evil spirits and perform many other miracles?"'

23'But I will tell them: "I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers!"'

...28When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were captivated by his teaching.

29'For he taught as one who had authority, unlike their scribes.'

Susan Price30 said:And then he goes on:

The Golden Rule. It’s such a simple concept, isn't it? I was sitting on my porch in Austin yesterday, just sipping some iced tea and watching the neighbors, when it hit me again. Treat others how you want to be treated. It sounds almost too easy, like something you'd hear in a Sunday school lesson, but man, if more people actually lived by it, the world would be a much smoother ride. Just a little bit of kindness goes a long way. Simple as that.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That’s really the heart of everything when you dive into Moses' laws and the teachings of the prophets. It’s such a simple idea, isn't it? I was thinking about this while grabbing coffee downtown yesterday—just how much easier life would be if everyone actually lived by that one rule. It’s the foundation of it all.

narrow path 13

Enter through the narrow gate! You know, the wide gates and those broad, easy paths? They just lead straight to ruin, and honestly, it seems like everyone is taking them. I remember walking down a massive boulevard in Chicago once, thinking how easy it was to just follow the crowd, but then I realized how easy it is to lose your way when there's no direction. It’s better to take the harder route."Enter through the narrow gate and take the narrow path 13 that leads to life! There aren't many who actually find it."

You know, I was sitting on my porch this morning, just sipping some coffee and watching the squirrels go nuts in the oak tree, when I started thinking about that old parable about the tree and its fruit. It’s one of those things that really sticks with you. It’s pretty simple, really. You can tell what kind of tree you're looking at just by checking the harvest. A thorn bush isn't going to give you delicious peaches, right? And you won't find apples growing on a weed. It’s just common sense. I think it applies to us, too. Our actions are basically the fruit we're hanging out there for everyone to see. If someone claims to be a good person but their life is full of nothing but trouble and negativity, well, the math just doesn't add up. You can't fake the harvest forever. It’s all about what’s happening deep down in the roots. If the heart is good, the fruit eventually follows. Just a little thought for your Tuesday!

Watch out for those fake prophets. They show up looking like gentle sheep, but deep down, they're just greedy wolves in disguise. I learned that the hard way back in my college days when I trusted a guy who seemed totally chill, only to find out he was nothing but trouble. Just stay vigilant!You’ll recognize them by their fruit. I mean, can you really pick grapes from a thorn bush or figs from a thistle? Not a chance. It just doesn't work that way.

It’s just like they say in the Bible: a good tree always produces good fruit, while a bad tree only puts out bad fruit. I was walking through my garden in Seattle the other day, looking at my apple trees, and it really hit me how true that is. You can't expect sweet apples from a dying branch. It all starts from the roots.

You know, I was thinking about this today while I was grabbing my morning coffee at Starbucks. It’s like that old saying goes: you can't get good fruit from a bad tree, and you definitely won't get bad fruit from a healthy one. Nature just works that way. It's all about the roots, right? If the foundation isn't solid, nothing else is going to turn out quite right. It's a simple truth, but it really sticks with you.

Every tree that fails to produce good fruit gets chopped down and tossed right into the fire. It’s just how nature works, I guess. Reminds me of this old orchard my uncle used to keep outside of Des Moines—he was pretty ruthless about pruning anything that wasn't pulling its weight. If it didn't grow, it went straight to the woodpile. Simple as that.

"You’ll know them by their fruits." It's such a simple truth, isn't it? I was thinking about this while grabbing coffee at Starbucks this morning. You can say all the right things, but at the end of the day, it's what you actually produce—your actions, your impact on people—that tells the real story. Just like how you can tell an apple tree from an orange tree just by looking at what's hanging on the branches. Simple as that!

Real students.

Not everyone who calls me Lord is actually going to make it into the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s only those who truly follow my Father in heaven.

At the judgment, plenty of people are going to come up to me and say, "Lord, Lord! Didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we use your name to cast out evil spirits and perform all these other miracles?" It makes you think about how much noise we make versus what actually matters. I remember once when I was volunteering at a local soup kitchen in Chicago, someone was talking a big game about their faith, but they wouldn't even look a hungry person in the eye. It’s easy to say the words, isn't it? Real action is a different story entirely.

I’ll just tell them straight: "I never knew you people. Get away from me, you evil ones!"
...Once Jesus finished speaking, the whole crowd was just completely swept up in His teaching.

He taught like someone who actually held authority, you know? It wasn't like those legalistic scribes they were used to. I remember reading about this once during a summer trip through New England, and it really struck me how different his presence was compared to the usual stuffy academics. He had this natural weight to him.

So, Matthew heard it from someone who heard it from a third party... and it’s all just one big chain of hearsay. But hey, nothing in this life happens by accident, right? I actually stumbled upon some info on this myself recently. It turns out that none of the Gospel writers actually saw Jesus in the flesh. Just a little food for thought while you're sipping your coffee!
Those bold numbers—13, 15, and 23—are mainly pointing toward the various branches of the church, both throughout history and as they stand today.
Jah Rastafari!

The BabylonRastas assert that Zion—specifically Africa, and Ethiopia in particular—is the sacred land Jah promised to them. Because of this belief, they turn their backs on modern Western society, labeling it "Babylon." To them, it’s just a system built on corruption. They actually believe "Babylon" has been in open rebellion against Earth's Rightful Ruler since the era of the Biblical King Nimrod. It reminds me a bit of those old stories my grandfather used to tell about folks rejecting the hustle and bustle of big cities to find peace in the countryside. Just looking for something pure, I guess.

The Rastafari believe they are the true Children of Israel. They’re always looking for ways to prove that deep connection between Ethiopia and Israel, especially by using the title Lion of Judah. Their whole heart is set on returning to Mount Zion—which means heading back to Africa. You can really hear this in the music, too. Rast reggae is peppered with references to Zion; among the best-known examples are the Bob Marley songs "Zion Train" and "Iron Lion Zion." It’s all about finding that way home.

Jerry King11 said:I stumbled upon this little snippet from Jorge Luis Borges: "Abel and Cain meet on the other side. Cain asks Abel, 'Have you forgiven me?' — 'What does it matter?' Abel replies. 'But I killed you,' says Cain. 'I don't really remember,' answers Abel."

Based on this, the only effective recipes for lasting happiness involve amnesia or a lobotomy.