No forgiveness for Richard?

[jabdo]

The fact that the priest couldn’t forgive Richard and Jacob couldn’t either bothers me. It seems to be a clue of some sort. Don't know what, though. Is there no forgiveness in one time line? Is this a consequence of evil getting uncorked and out into the world? That can’t be- it doesn’t appear to be uncorked when the priest and Jacob say they can’t absolve him of his sin…unless I have my time lines mixed up…

Reminds me of movies and such that explore the possibilities and consequences of what would happen if Jesus never died – his death and resurrection being what gives us forgiveness of sin- not automatically, but we have to obey/follow him. Maybe that’s reading too much into the Christian thing… Forgive me, I’m a fan religious themes

[spinaltumor]

It seems more to me that the priest could have...but didn't, and that Jacob couldn't have, but would have. If that makes sense.

Also, this could be a bit of a stretch, but like.... Judas betrayed Jesus and when he realized what he had done he hung himself because he didn't believe there was anything he could have done to atone for what he did. Peter, meanwhile, denied knowing Jesus several times and struggled with that guilt but ultimately realized God would forgive him for it.
Richard was sort of looking at things from the Judas perspective for a while, but then perhaps turned towards Peter's view.
Ben underwent a similar turning point in Dr. Linus as well.

Just because someone doesn't give the word, doesn't me you aren't forgiven. At least that's what I take away from it.

[Uncle Igmar]

I think with Jacob - he didn't think it was his place to forgive him. It would be like us asking some guy on the corner forgiveness for killing someone. It's not his place to forgive you anything - unless you had done something to them.

The priest i think was just a product of his times.

You're supposed to be able to confess any sin to a priest and - in theory - you are forgiven by God with the priest being an intermediary and giving you a penance to serve. Kind of hard to reconcile that idea with a murderer asking forgiveness and getting it - and I mean a murderer - not someone who - in Richard's case - killed someone by accident.

As we saw ultimately - the priest was after money - whether for his church (I doubt it ) or for himself (more likely) and you have to realize that that that time - priests and the more scientifically trained - were the only ones who were literate (kind of makes you wonder how Richard learned English) - and were the only ones with any power in the peoples' lives. They were literate and had God on their side - so it was very important to receive forgiveness from the priest.