There we go, wasnt aware you knew how to work it. Considering you put your own last reply inside quotations, and quoted me twice.

Your words are empty, and have little to reinforce them! Your emperor lies dead upon a throne, his "flames" cannot touch me, for they do not exist! Your machines will corrupt and rust from the plagues of Greatfather Nurgle, and your soldiers shall die from our blades! You call our epiphany a "fall," when it only shows how far above you we truly are! Our incursions were mere scouting parties, nothing but a test against the frail walls of Cadia, walls which are currently crashing down from our might! Your struggle may be glourious to you, but it is all but another kill for one such as myself, a kill which brings me a step closer to bringing my plans to fruition.

// If you guys wanna continue this, just start a private conversation with me, it is annoying everyone else.

I dont think CSM need redemption since it was us that got betrayed by the Emperor and his "loyalists" it is they that need redemption not us!!

chaos space marines are beyond redemption, once being corrupted by chaos u cant return though u may try to serve the emperor by killing chaos followers and may get redemption ONLY if the emperor allows so, so it was in fantasy and so it is in 40k

I'm surprised to see how far this has gone, it's surpassed my expectations. Thank you very much guys.

Baygle, I owe you an especial thanks for keeping this going. You kept the torch lit without burning this to the ground, which is an accomplishment that deserves the highest praises.

As regards to this thread, I'm seeing a lot of perspective from within the Warhammer universe. That's fine I suppose, basing your opinion on what the Imperium would believe, but why not make your decision based upon your own moral compass? What do you, I repeat you believe, not what the Eldar, Ork, or Space Marine you wish to be believes? Also, this is not a pro Imperial thread. I don't know where people are getting the idea, but I cannot stand the Imperium, I am not endorsing their beliefs at all through this thread, so please, don't accuse me for defending the Emperor, he is an enemy of mine, an enemy I would dearly love to see crushed.

Oh you, you're making me flush

I'm glad you like my participation in this discussion, I'm just interested in sharing my opinion and getting to know the ones of other people. Even if someone has a completely different one than I do, it's always interesting to understand the reasoning behind it.

From my own standpoint, to summarise, I think that Chaos Space Marines are far beyond redemption, mostly because I don't see how they could feel regret and therefore redeeming themselves of all the things they did in the name of psychotic, daemonic beings. They went as far as anyone can go, only to destroy something they hate for different reasons. Even if someone would feel regret for all these things which include mass murder, genocide and I don't wanna know what kind of perversions, I don't really see a way they could make up for it since even selfsacrifice would pale in comparison to the commitment of those who are still loyal to the Imperium.

I guess the reason people try to see it from an imperial standpoint is that the Imperium is the being the CSM were sinning against, as well as the moral and religious authority within the Warhammer lore. It's very tempting to put this question into context with what the Imperium is preaching about heresy and redemption.

The answer is very simple in this case. My personal, RL opinion is that redemption is possible for anyone, no matter how heinous their deeds are. However, a simple apology is not enough. One needs to actively atone for his crimes, until the scale of justice balances itself. The csm committed atrocities for almost ten millenias. After they deny their former masters and cleanse themselves of the Warp's taint, they have to help their victims for 10,000 years or die trying. Build habs for the homeless, give food to the starving, defend the weak and the innocent, bring justice and law to the dark corners of the galaxy and make sufficient amends to all whom they wronged. Any Chaos Space Marine willing to embark upon this crusade of penitence (and preserves) is redeemed in my opinion. All stains can be erased with good works, some stains simply require larger works.
Of course, no csm worth his salt would ever do this. They are so caught up in their own darkness that they are most likely incapable of facing their own evil. They will continue to do their wicked deeds and revel in their depravity until they die or ascend. Like me.

Of course they can, a little bit of fiery death redeems everything.

The Bearers of the Word did nothing but follow their beliefs.There is nothing to be redeemed, they could not control the nature of existence. Their actions are justified within the context of everything they know, from their eyes what is there to be redeemed?