Curious Christian

In Feeling Guilty, Arthur Dobrin of the Ethical Humanist Society explores the place of guilt within ethical education:

“Many thoughtful parents want to shield their children from feelings of guilt or shame in much the same way that they want to spare them from fear. Guilt and shame as methods of discipline are to be eschewed along with raised hands and leather straps. Fear, guilt and shame as methods of moral instruction are seen as failures in decent parenting. Parents want their children to be happy and how can you feel happy when you are feeling guilty, fearful or ashamed? If we were really convinced that using fear, guilt or shame as methods of discipline worked, though, we might be more ready to use them as techniques. But we aren’t convinced…” 

“…The clear conclusion from the studies on guilt is that attempting to induce guilt as a means of creating a moral standard that will be accepted by the individual is bound to fail. The process is backwards. Guilt flows from morality, not the other way around. If people feel guilty when they have done wrong, it is because they already possess a moral compass. But if they are lacking the rudiments of moral feelings and don’t possess mature moral judgment, then deliberately instilling guilt won’t create an ethical person. Instead it will more likely create an angry, hostile person.”

I think this is an important message to take on board for Christian engagement with wider culture, both in how we present the gospel and how we speak on moral issues.