There is, of course, a whole other aspect to all this, namely the psychological/philosophical one, centred on the question, 'Is anybody really to blame for their actions?' Modern research is starting to show that brain damage, genetic traits, early head injuries etc coupled with traumatic experiences/abuse during childhood can produce a character who may be morally bad, even evil. Should that type of person be forgiven for their wickedness, or at least understood and pitied? In other words, is there truly free will in such a case? I would tend to say not. On that basis, I can forgive. After all, when one of my cats wees on the curtain, I forgive him, because he's only doing what cats do. I feel this is more scientific than religious.   Such ideas were of course wholly unknown 2000 years ago!