[HPforGrownups] Re: Forgiveness

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 188671

Geoff wrote:
> And since JKR was writing within that context, had it been part of 
> the story line for Voldemort to repent and show remorse, I believe 
> she would have had it happen.
>   

Bart:
    This brings up a question which JKR dodges. She clearly writes Morty 
as being mentally ill; certainly sociopathic and probably psyhopathic. 
This means, among other things, that he does not have the capability of 
repentance, much less the desire to do so. He is completely lacking in 
empathy, and would no more feel remorse to a fellow human being than we 
would show remorse to an empty chair we pushed aside so that we could 
get by.

    The question is a basic one of those who believe in an afterlife, 
but do not believe in reincarnation: what happens in the afterlife to 
someone whose behavior was limited by mental illness? JKR depicts Morty 
being in for an eternity of suffering, and, frankly, it's through no 
fault of his own. The choosing of good and evil in Christianity is based 
on the eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Yet, Morty has no 
real understanding of good and evil, except as purely intellectual 
constructs. The apparent reason why he so readily splits his soul so 
much is that there is a blockage between his mind and his soul. Had his 
full soul been suddenly restored, he would not have been able to tell 
the difference between the almost soulless state and the state with the 
full soul.

    In some Eastern systems where they believe in reincarnation, they 
believe that there is an ephemeral part of humanity, and an eternal 
part, eventually connecting to an ultimate unity. What we call the soul 
is the eternal part of us. Our emotions, desires, etc. are part of the 
ephemeral part. Within that belief system, when a being with flaws like 
Morty's dies, he brings nothing of that life into his future lives. He 
isn't even necessarily effected by the karma, since the creation of 
karma requires making a choice.

    But in a Christian sense, someone like him is problematical. And, 
like I said,  JKR  fails to  even consider the question, much less 
answer it.

    Bart