Red Dead Redemption 2 isn't just about shooting legendary animals or getting into bar fights in Valentine. Honestly, it’s a slow-burn study on what it means to be a human being when you know your time is up. One specific mission, Preaching Forgiveness As He Went, serves as a weirdly prophetic turning point. On the surface, you’re just helping Lenny Summers rob some Lemoyne Raiders for a wagon of rifles. But look at the title. It’s a heavy, biblical-sounding phrase for a mission where you basically commit mass murder.
Most players breeze through this in Chapter 3, laughing at Lenny’s enthusiasm or complaining about the gold medal requirements. But the irony is thick. At this point in the story, Arthur Morgan isn’t preaching forgiveness to anyone. He’s a debt collector. He’s a killer. He’s the "enforcer" for a man who talks about "faith" while leading his family into a meat grinder.
The Irony of Preaching Forgiveness As He Went
The mission title itself is a play on the idea of a traveling preacher. Instead of spreading the gospel, Arthur and Lenny are spreading lead. You meet Lenny at camp, ride out to Shady Belle—which, let's be real, is one of the creepiest spots in the game—and wipe out a camp of Confederate-obsessed outlaws.
Why does this title matter? Because it sets up the massive spiritual debt Arthur spends the rest of the game trying to pay off. You’re doing something "bad" (robbing and killing) to people who are arguably "worse" (the Raiders). It’s the classic Van der Linde gang logic. We're the "good" bad guys.
But as the story shifts toward Beaver Hollow and Chapter 6, that title starts to feel like a ghost haunting Arthur. By the end, he actually is preaching a version of forgiveness, though he’d never call it that. He’s too cynical for churchy words.
Arthur’s Shift: From Enforcer to Soul-Searcher
The real meat of the "forgiveness" theme happens way after that Shady Belle shootout. It’s in the quiet moments. Think about the conversation with Sister Calderón at the train station. If you played with High Honor, this scene is probably the most emotional moment in the entire game.
"I'm afraid," Arthur says.
That’s a 250-pound killer admitting he’s terrified to a nun. She doesn’t tell him he’s a saint. She tells him to "take a gamble that love exists and do a loving act." She’s basically telling him that even if he can't forgive himself, he can still be the source of something good for someone else.
The Edith Downes Factor
You can't talk about Arthur Morgan and forgiveness without talking about the Downes family. This is where the game gets brutal. Arthur literally catches his death (Tuberculosis) while beating a sick man, Thomas Downes, for a few bucks.
Later, in the mission "Do Not Seek Absolution," Arthur finds Edith Downes in Annesburg. She’s been forced into a life she never wanted because of what Arthur did. When he tries to give her money, he says something that hits like a freight train:
"I ain't looking for forgiveness. It ain't about that."
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He knows he can't be forgiven by her. He doesn’t even want it because he feels he doesn't deserve it. But he insists she takes the money. He wants her to survive even if she hates him until the day she dies. That’s a sophisticated take on redemption that most movies can't even pull off. It's not about a clean slate; it's about doing the right thing because it's the right thing, even if you’re still going to hell.
Why People Misunderstand Arthur’s Redemption
There’s this idea that Arthur becomes a "good man" because you chose to help a stranger fix their bird-watching map or whatever. But the game is smarter than that. Arthur is a mass murderer. Rockstar Games doesn't let him off the hook.
The "forgiveness" in RDR2 is mostly internal and structural.
- Internal: Arthur forgiving himself enough to believe his final actions matter.
- Structural: Arthur trying to get John, Abigail, and Jack out of the life so they don't have to seek forgiveness later.
If you play the "Low Honor" route, the mission title Preaching Forgiveness As He Went feels like a sick joke. In that version, Arthur dies angry and bitter. But in the High Honor path, it becomes a blueprint for his final days. He stops "preaching" with a gun and starts acting with a conscience.
The Role of Reverend Swanson
Swanson is another piece of the puzzle. Early on, he’s the camp drunk—a joke. But he’s the one who originally embodied the "preaching" aspect. When he cleans up his act, he provides a mirror for Arthur. He shows that you can walk away from the person you used to be. You don't have to be the drunk, and you don't have to be the killer.
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How to Apply "The Arthur Morgan Method" to Your Playthrough
If you’re hopping back into RDR2 and want to really feel the weight of this arc, don’t just rush the yellow mission markers. The game is designed to be lived in.
- Visit the side characters: Missions with Charlotte Balfour or the veteran Hamish Sinclair aren't just filler. They are the only times Arthur feels like a regular human being.
- Read the Journal: This is where the real Arthur lives. His drawings and notes show a man who is constantly observing beauty while he’s surrounded by ugliness.
- Listen to the camp dialogue: In Chapter 6, the vibe in camp is toxic. Listen to how Arthur tries to steer the younger members, like Tilly or Mary-Beth, away from Dutch's madness.
Actionable Insights for the RDR2 Completionist
Redemption isn't a stat you max out; it's a series of choices. If you want to experience the full weight of Arthur's journey toward "preaching" a better way of life, focus on these specific steps:
- Complete the "Do Not Seek Absolution" missions in Chapter 6. You need to have a high enough honor level for these to even trigger in Annesburg. It is the most direct resolution to Arthur’s greatest sin.
- Prioritize the "Help a Brother Out" and "Brothers and Sisters, One and All" missions in Saint Denis. This introduces you to Sister Calderón, who provides the spiritual backbone for the end of the game.
- Kick Strauss out of camp. It’s one of the few times Arthur takes a stand on principle rather than just following Dutch's orders. It feels good. Trust me.
Arthur Morgan never becomes a preacher in the literal sense. He doesn't stand on a soapbox in Saint Denis and tell people to repent. Instead, he preaches through his silence and his sacrifice. He gives everything he has—literally his last breath—to make sure someone else gets a chance to live a better life. That’s the most honest kind of forgiveness there is.