redemption

Alright, its time to hit up the ol blogger again, so here we go....the topic for this time...redemption*

what does it mean, to be "redeemed" is what i want to think about, or rather, what i have been thinking about since the frog prince gave me the Stephen Donaldson series "The Chronicles of Thoman Covenant, the Unbeliever" (thats sci-fi fantasy for those not too nerdy).
anyway, so redemption, what does it take, what does it mean, what the heck are we supposed to do about it......
well, first things first, in order for an individual to be redeemed, we need to have some heinous sinful terribly morally suspect action that requires the redemption, ie a fall, or the fall

it seems like people only need 'redemption' from big actions, big falls.....its not like i really need to redeem myself for stealing a cookie from the cookie jar, but the three time rapist needs to seriously do something to find redemption.....why is it only these big acts? i think because of a loss of trust or faith, that is........when i do something that is morally suspect, but doesn't take away ones trust or faith in me, i don't need redemption, i need some forgiveness, or some guidance, or something...this seems fairly straightforward to me

so, we have falls, or failings, that violate a sense of faith or trust...these are big deals...and the most recent example i see is the violation of the overarching political framework in this country on the realpolitik. That is, when the most optimistic poll i've seen [and NPR agreed with me today] is that 55% of elgible voters are turning out for the votes, it seeems fairly fucking obvious that there has been some loss of trust between those "Politicians" and us "voters" or as i prefer it, those "elected servents of the public" and us, the "public"

So, thats the most glaring example of an act that needs to be redeemed that i can think of. how does one get redeemed?

well, ye olde dictionary offers me this.
To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum.
To pay off (a promissory note, for example).
To turn in (coupons, for example) and receive something in exchange.
To fulfill (a pledge, for example).
To convert into cash: redeem stocks.
To set free; rescue or ransom.
To save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences.
To make up for: The low price of the clothes dryer redeems its lack of special features.
To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of: You botched the last job but can redeem yourself on this one.

Wow, isn't it fairly sickening how much these word is referred to in economical situations?

So, we have this amazing and impressively long list [for an american english dictionary], and what should we do with it. Well, it seems to me that the action in those instances is quite active. That is, the action isn't a passive arrangment [after time one becomes redeemed] no, its involved, active, time to do it now!!! we PAY! the sum, we SET FREE! we FULFILL our promise, we CONVERT the money, yadda yadda yadda

thus,it seemslike for one to be redeemed is within that individuals control.....ie, forgiveness is something that another person does to you, when you commit a wrong. someone else FORGIVES you...but with redemption, it is something that one must seek and choose....thus, it is something that is within control of the individual

just thought i'd explicate how my thought process went for awhile therethats it for now

-joel
*-i'm purposfully avoiding the religious significance of these words