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Can evil be requited with good?

Christians claim that evil can and ought to be requited with good. So in "Les Miserables", the Bishop inspired Jean Valjean to reform by telling the police that he willingly gave Jean the silver plate (and added the candlesticks) even though Jean stole the silver. Does this strategy ever work to reform an evildoer? Or is it merely a license to further evil? In some cases, might it be useful to "heap burning coals on [an evildoer's] head"? If so, when and why?

Anonymous , 13.03.2014, 17:33
Idea status: completed

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Ragnar Weskar, 23.04.2014, 19:45
It depend on the evil act committed whether it can be corrected as easily. For example, a person steals a gallon of milk from a grocery store. If the thief wanted to redeem their malicious act, they could return the gallon of milk to the grocery store. Reforming criminals, immoral men or women, or any other evil human can not come from authorities of any kind instead they should be objectively-impartially punished for violating the rights of individual victims. Reforming is a personal act that depends on the person's content of character and rationality. Personal change only comes from within by virtue of personal effort.
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