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                  %ESSENTIALLY DISINTEGRATIVE GUILT 870116

     Guilt is essentially disintegrative.

     Guilt is self rejection.   Guilt entails a  splitting
of  the  self into a judgmental portion  which  identifies
itself with an external judgmental group of people, ideals
and  values;   and another self viewed as responsible  for
non-conformal  behaviors.   The  feelings  of  guilt   are
symptoms  of the disintegration of the self into  mutually
rejective selves that are in the service of ideas, ideals,
values, desires, fears,  etc.  which are in conflict among
themselves.    Guilt  is a symptom of  conflict,   not  an
indication of integration.

     It   is  absurd  for  people  who  are  dedicated  to
promoting  both personal and communal integrity to promote
and  encourage guilt of any form.   Disintegration is  not
the   foundation   for   courage,    and   to    encourage
disintegration   leads  not  to  courage;   but  to  fear,
timidity,  indecision and incoherence.   The encouragement
of guilt  and  the  use  of  guilt  as  an  instrument  of
manipulation  is evil and sinful;  leading to  alienation,
estrangement and disintegration.   This is true regardless
of the ultimate ideals and values ostensibly being served.
Guilt is  essentially evil and sinful.  It can not be used
in integrative ways.

     Repentance which is motivated by guilt is a return to
conformity  and  conventionality,  it  is  not  redemptive
salvation  in returning home to a community with  personal
integrity.    Guilt  is not an integrative motivation  for
redemptive  repentance,   it  is  the  disintegration   of
personal integrity,   and  so  also ultimately of communal
integrity.

     It is  better to pray personally and  communally  for
integrity  than  it  is to disintegrate with  feelings  of
guilt.    It  is better to promote personal  and  communal
honesty and integrity  than  it  is to promote guilt which
leads to personal and communal disintegration.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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