I am in a community group that encourages forgiveness.  I wonder: Does such a norm encouraging forgiveness help or hurt the individual who might consider forgiving?  Does such a norm encouraging forgiveness help or hurt the community?

I think it depends heavily on how this norm of forgiveness is concretely expressed within the community.  For example, if people feel pressured to forgive, then forgiveness could become a grim obligation that is rejected.  If forgiveness is held up as a choice—a true choice that is up to the wronged person—-then this issue of pressure is lessened or even eliminated.  If people truly understand what forgiveness is, then they may be drawn to forgiving.  All may benefit when people truly understand what forgiveness is and is not, are drawn to forgiveness rather than forced into it, and then practice it for the good of others.

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