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AKA Smith, this is completely off topic, though the topic of forgiveness does coincide with the original topic of domestic violence.
The Buddhist view on forgiveness is best described as atonement, which is basically finding forgiveness within yourself without expecting anything in return. Not expecting anything in return, or being selflessly humble is the corner stone of practicing Buddhism. And you can atone by either finding peace within yourself or peace with someone else. If you are angry with someone, you should look within yourself as you are the source of the anger, and if others are angry with you, you still need to look at yourself, and try to figure out why they might be angry with you. Whatever the circumstances, you can't discount yourself from the situation, as you are a part of the situation, even if you are not the one committing the evil acts.
My mother is a Quaker who use to be Catholic, and my father is an agnostic who use to be Catholic, whom my wife is converting to Buddhism. I was an agnostic, but I was converted to Buddhism by my wife, though my interest in Buddhist started almost the day I first arrived in Japan. Once I saw the alternative to Christianity I was hooked.
I believe too much in the human soul not to be religious.
"But about the heaven thing? Hmm. I can't say I ever worried much about Falwell either, but I thought Buddhists didn't believe in heaven. I don't want to see my ex in heaven either. That is why I enjoy being an agnostic."
We do believe in the very good possibility of there being a heaven like world in the Universe, or the possibility that Earth could become a heaven (and conversely that there might be very hellish type worlds). Most importantly we believe that we were all close with each other in the past, and that we will be close with each other eventually again. In other words make peace with all of your enemies, as their karma will always be a part of the Universe. And always respect the Earth, because if we don't in the future it could become a very hellish home for us (and there is the possibility that there are no other inhabitable worlds out there).
