Hypothetically:
Lets say its discovered that this racist kid had a large tumor on his brain giving him a severe lack of empathy and increased aggression. He also was heavily indoctrinated by others to have the world view that he has. He also has severe chemical imbalances that are measured and quantified that can explain his sociopathic tendencies. Lets add in that he was threatened by a racist group leader into doing this act as well. He was also abused by African Americans much of his childhood in various forms. He is also mentally handicapped.
He still needs to be treated and locked up to protect society but would forgiveness on the part of victims families be more acceptable in this scenario? People need to be held accountable for their actions but can they still be forgiven? I think some here are implying that forgiveness must always include a suspension of accountability and justice. Perhaps its that forgiveness has no place in a court room and only in the "hearts" of those effected.
I don't believe that the forgiveness that the kids said they had for this murderer = they want the murder to roam the streets than to be in prison. I think their world view of sin, satanic influence, potential future repentance, salvation, and divine justice in an afterlife as well as a dash of faked public piety are what lend to a different definition of a type of human-to-human unconditional forgiveness these kids and other Christians might sometimes have. In that sense, yes their idea of forgiveness is not similar to ours.
