It is not possible to Forgive and Forget

The subject of forgiveness has been discussed and expounded for centuries.  In life we all experience pain caused by fellow beings.

During wars and genocides, atrocities were inflicted to the whole communities or on certain races.  That happened during the Second World War Auschwitz.  That happened in Cambodia during the Pol Pot regime.  That happened in Africa when one tribe exterminated another tribe.  The wounds would remain fresh in that one generation.  But after some generations, the pain is no longer personal.

I would talk about personal pain - the pain within ones lifetime.  It may be a case of grievous rape;  a case of desecrating what is more important than ones life;  a case seeing family members maimed, tortured and killed, right before ones eyes;  a case of wickedly destroying ones personal esteemed and dignity.  The pain would be there till the sufferer die.  Is forgive and forget possible??

Forgive is an act of the will.  It is possible to forgive.  In this world, there are many saintly sages who have the capacity to forgive.  We all know Nelson Mandela.  He was one.  I have the greatest respect for him.

It is not possible to forget.  The experience is embedded in our mind, our physical faculty, whether consciously or subconsciously.  When our brains deteriorate due to old age or Dementia or other illnesses, we may not remember anymore.  But that is not 'forget'. That is not remembering due to disability and illness.

Between the 2 extremes of not forgiving and perfect forgiveness, there is a range of possibilities:
a) I may forgive the wrongdoer but will not regard him as an acquaintance anymore. (I treat him as someone I do not know before.)
b) I may forgive the wrongdoer and do not want to have anything to do with him. (If he is trapped in a burning house, I will NOT try to save him.)
c) I may forgive the wrongdoer but do not want him to go to heaven with me.
d) I may forgive the wrongdoer and will love him as a friend. 
e) I may forgive the wrongdoer and I am prepared to sacrifice my own life for him one day...

So let us examine ourselves when we say we have forgiven someone.  Is it a), b)... or e)?

When Jesus Christ was dying on the cross, He asked God to "...forgive them;  for they do not know what they are doing...Luk23:34"  What forgiveness is that ???

That is Forgiveness in Agape Love.