DH reread CH 8

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 186386

Zara:
Whether it is or is not possible, it is an existing strand in Christian
philosophy about religion. Blaise Pascal, for example, in his "Thoughts" 
(Pensees) proposed that as we cannot by reason ascertain whether or not God
exists, we ought to choose to believe anyway. (Basically, for probabilistic
reasons, it maximizes our chances for a positive outcome). <SNIP>

Alla:

Oh, I really liked Pascal's quote and if this is what Doge is saying, I understand I think.

But to me asking to choose to believe in place of non-believing is a little bit different from asking to believe in good things and ignore bad ones, if that makes sense. Or maybe you are right and there is no difference. 

Pippin:

In the end Harry decides he does not need to know the exact truth about what
happened to Dumbledore's sister and does not want to make Dumbledore tell him.
Harry recognizes that he does not have to have reasons for his trust in
Dumbledore beyond knowing that Dumbledore loved him and tried to do his best.

I was surprised by that, because Harry always wanted to know everything, and
because he felt so much sympathy for Ariana. But then I realized that though
the shadows that came from Voldemort's wand were vengeful, the spirits that
Harry summoned through the R-stone were at peace.

I think there is a very strong sense in canon that justice is for the living,
and old crimes can be laid to rest.

Alla:

Yes, well I know that, believe me I do and I agree really that all Harry wants is to forgive Dumbledore. As a reader the only way I can be satisfied with it is by reminding myself that he is indeed dead and as you said, justice is for the living in canon.  Had Dumbledore been alive and Harry would have spread his forgiveness on him, I would have been quite angry lol.
I am curious why were you surprised though, to me at this point in line of who I think Harry is, him spreading forgiveness was the only way to continue metaphor IMO. I was not even surprised him forgiving **Snape** and Dumbledore he for the longest time thought of as father figure. No, I was not surprised that Harry jumped at the possibility to forgive him.

 This is not quite what I meant though when I wrote that this phrase does not sit well (choose to believe). I was wondering more in line of what Zara addressed, you know?

I am just trying to figure out how person can do that in general and applicable to canon. Because maybe I am translating the nuances incorrectly in my head, but to me choosing to believe that person is good (Dumbledore in that instance) is a little bit different from KNOWING  about person doing bad things and ignoring them or forgiving them. It seemed to me that what Doge was asking Harry to do is to just disregard whatever bad things he heard and choose to believe anyways rather than just Harry not wanting to know?

Am I making sense?

Alla