I was thinking about game theory, tit-for-tat, scorpions, and Ghandi’s axiom (The best way to utterly destroy your enemy is to make him into your friend.) Now, various religious groups promote forgiveness, no matter what. Game theory says that the best way to get positive results is to do unto others as they do unto you, and assuming that people will be helpful until they prove otherwise. The problem is that some people are nuts, and cannot be given the benefit of the doubt.
Wow. I just hijacked myself. So, is there empirical evidence suggesting that unconditional forgiveness is the “right” answer?
The world isn’t black & white, IMHO. If you really meant to say, “do unto others as they do unto you,” then I’d have to lie, cheat, steal and stab others who’ve done that to me. I don’t think there is a “right” answer.
According to Jesus, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Meaning, if someone is sorry, asks forgiveness, and shows it, try to forgive. If there is no remorse, then there is nothing to forgive. That doesn’t mean we hate or are unjust to our enemies, but we are not asked to be doormats, either.