Belindi wrote:Nick_A wrote:
Guilt is inflicted on a person by respected others or society itself. Inflicting guilt is one of the greatest mistakes secular religion makes. It can destroy another psychologically, Genuine remorse is the experience that we suffer the human condition. Rather than crippling, remorse serves to awaken us to reality. We see that we are the "wretched Man" and can strive to become balanced not to please others but to help ourselves and our connection to higher consciousness so as to become what we ARE.
Is in general psychologically true. But Nick's blaming "secular religion" is a bad idea .Blaming secular belief for the infliction of guilt doesn't aid us in the quest for "higher consciousness".
Religions are sources of guilt consciousness. Both religions and secular beliefs can be founded upon forgiveness of self and others which is the way to transform guilty feelings into genuine wise remorse.
How can we speak of higher consciousness if we don't recognize the distinction between guilt and remorse. Forgiveness is a step leading from guilt into remorse? The Bible describes it well:
John 8 King James Version (KJV)
8 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
People assumed the woman was gulilty of breaking biblical law. People always want to accuse another of anything. In modern times we have accusations of bigotry, sexism, xenophobia, xenaphobia and lord knows what else. It never dawns on these righteous disciples of PC justice that they are not without sin. Of course if any of them felt remorse over what they ARE, it would be all different. It is too insulting to be acted upon so everything continues as is.
Man would like to be an egoist and cannot. This is the most striking characteristic of his wretchedness and the source of his greatness." Simone Weil....Gravity and Grace