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Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed
Earned forgiveness is possible, but obviously cannot be forced, and almost certainly takes a LONG time, if ever. It definitely takes hard work.
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I think a pertinent question worth exploration is "what does such forgiveness look like"?
Setting aside for the moment what Joosten might possibly do to earn the forgiveness of his peers, what does that even mean? An ongoing debate taking place right now in my community is what to do with Joosten's past scholarship. Do his deplorable crimes disqualify his scholarly work? By continuing to consult his past publications, do we—even unintentionally—validate his consumption of child abuse images?
I am conflicted. I suppose there is a level of forgiveness that I can aspire to by which the works of Joosten are sanctioned for consultation and citation. But I continue to be bothered by the notion that I am implicitly promoting a horrible person in the process.
Retribution for his actions will likely result in the ruin of his natural life. If he never gets another job, if he never publishes another paper, if he is never again positioned to teach—that seems like a reasonable consequence. Is there still a level of "forgiveness" by which a person must also continue to suffer the effects of his sins forever?