Science, Religion and Philosophy
In our modern world it seems as if natural science is completely incompatible with religion and (to a large extend) philosophy. In spite of some imaginative scientists trying to soften and modify the scientific community's view of the world as a huge machine, the general impression is that a war between two different world views is taking place. On one hand the scientific view of the world as pure matter without any kind of spirit (and certainly not any kind of divine purpose or interference) and on the other hand the religious or philosophic views where spirit (and in many cases also some kind of divine power) plays an important role in our whole existence.
Why does it have to be like that? Albert Einstein, who is regarded as one of the greatest scientists of all times, said: "Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." If one of the most esteemed scientists in modern times found it necessary to combine the two subjects then, why does the vast majority of scientists and religious representatives continue their seemingly endless fights?
It is evident that natural science explains a lot about nature and our universe. It is a fact that without science we would not have been able to create our modern civilizations with complex infrastructures enabling us to travel by land, air and sea. We wouldn't have computers, cell phones and internet. Modern hospitals, institutions and organizations would not exist . . .
But the fact that natural science has helped us immensely in understanding the nature surrounding us doesn't necessarily mean that we can find all answers that way. Our consciousness is still a mystery to natural science because it can only be experienced as a first-hand, subjective experience!
On the other hand, most religions are based on very old information that was originally given to people much less educated than the majority of people today. Also, it might very well be distorted by misinterpretations and misunderstandings during centuries. Nevertheless, in spite of all the wisdom contained in these religions it would have been impossible for anybody to explain scientific laws to people at that time. Remember that until a few centuries ago everybody was convinced that the earth was flat and also the center of the universe!
To me, modern philosophy should include knowledge from both natural science and religion. If scientists on one hand and religious people on the other hand are reluctant to change their views (maybe partly because it would force them to change their whole personal identity), philosophers ought to be seeking the truth without prejudice.
I also think that philosophy should include a total world view. In spite of the standpoint of existentialism that the individual has total freedom and responsibility to create his values alone, I find it very important to have a total personal world view.
Without a fundamental and comprehensive world view we are (in spite of the evolutionary principles) lonely beings in a world of chaos, coincidence and injustice.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Balance – an Important Life Ingredient?
It seems to me that balance is a very important factor in life. Balance between the divine and the earthly. Balance between spirit, mind and body, contemplation and action, rest and activity. Balance between individual and social interests. Balance in what we eat and drink - not being fanatic and not being exaggerating either. Balance in our views - being tolerant but not accepting every injustice or stupidity without trying to fight against it. Balance in religion and politics is a very important topic these days. Religion is a good thing when it gives people faith and hope. When it helps people to deal with losses and sickness, fear and death . . . but fanatic religious beliefs that suppress and hurt others are not acceptable. Politics ought to be the art of negotiations and compromises - not a means of securing extraordinary benefits for some at the expense of others. Having power doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be used to overrule anybody else's rights and interests.
Being on earth we have to participate in the earthly life. If we were all sitting on a mountain meditating all day long we would never have had the scientific development that we have been through. Some people spend so much time in the spiritual spheres that they almost live in their own world apart from others around them. Other people consider their time on earth as a time of suffering, thus spending all their lives awaiting a divine future after their physical deaths.
On the other hand, we live in societies that are fast paced and stressful to most of us. A lot of people spend their whole lives trying to create more and more material wealth, and in many circles the only thing that counts is being number one in everything. In many circles today it is considered a quality when people say: I hate to loose! But if you are playing a friendly tennis match or participating in any kind of social activity, isn't that attitude ridiculous? Are prestige, power and wealth all that matter? Does it help people in any way if they get a serious illness? Or lose a near family member? Does it help them to accept the fact that one day they will not be here anymore? Will it remove their possible fear of death?
A certain balance between spiritual and material life might be appropriate. If we are here for a divine purpose, we must try to make the best out of our lives - accepting at the same time that other people have the same rights as ourselves. Thus a balance between individual and social interests is necessary. Being selfish or egocentric isn't making anyone happy, and sacrificing our own lives for others isn't good either.
All our lives take place between contrasts: hot - cold, sweet - sour, cruelty - compassion, light - darkness, etc. All kinds of experiences are generated from some kind of interaction between these contrasts. Thus balance might be a very important lesson for us to learn while we are on this earth.
Of course, if there is no purpose to our lives at all, if all existence is completely coincidental and limited, then the conclusion might be different.
It seems to me that balance is a very important factor in life. Balance between the divine and the earthly. Balance between spirit, mind and body, contemplation and action, rest and activity. Balance between individual and social interests. Balance in what we eat and drink - not being fanatic and not being exaggerating either. Balance in our views - being tolerant but not accepting every injustice or stupidity without trying to fight against it. Balance in religion and politics is a very important topic these days. Religion is a good thing when it gives people faith and hope. When it helps people to deal with losses and sickness, fear and death . . . but fanatic religious beliefs that suppress and hurt others are not acceptable. Politics ought to be the art of negotiations and compromises - not a means of securing extraordinary benefits for some at the expense of others. Having power doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be used to overrule anybody else's rights and interests.
Being on earth we have to participate in the earthly life. If we were all sitting on a mountain meditating all day long we would never have had the scientific development that we have been through. Some people spend so much time in the spiritual spheres that they almost live in their own world apart from others around them. Other people consider their time on earth as a time of suffering, thus spending all their lives awaiting a divine future after their physical deaths.
On the other hand, we live in societies that are fast paced and stressful to most of us. A lot of people spend their whole lives trying to create more and more material wealth, and in many circles the only thing that counts is being number one in everything. In many circles today it is considered a quality when people say: I hate to loose! But if you are playing a friendly tennis match or participating in any kind of social activity, isn't that attitude ridiculous? Are prestige, power and wealth all that matter? Does it help people in any way if they get a serious illness? Or lose a near family member? Does it help them to accept the fact that one day they will not be here anymore? Will it remove their possible fear of death?
A certain balance between spiritual and material life might be appropriate. If we are here for a divine purpose, we must try to make the best out of our lives - accepting at the same time that other people have the same rights as ourselves. Thus a balance between individual and social interests is necessary. Being selfish or egocentric isn't making anyone happy, and sacrificing our own lives for others isn't good either.
All our lives take place between contrasts: hot - cold, sweet - sour, cruelty - compassion, light - darkness, etc. All kinds of experiences are generated from some kind of interaction between these contrasts. Thus balance might be a very important lesson for us to learn while we are on this earth.
Of course, if there is no purpose to our lives at all, if all existence is completely coincidental and limited, then the conclusion might be different.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Should We Bypass the Ego or Fight It With Its Own Remedies?
For many years I have been reading a lot of spiritual books, and it is clear to me that what we call the ego in spiritual terminology is causing all the suffering in ourselves and in the world around us as well. The ego is controlling our lives and it fills us with fear, worries and anxiety. The ego may convince us that this or that is dangerous, that our dreams can't be fulfilled, that what we want is impossible for all thinkable reasons, etc.
The ego includes everything we have been told by our parents, the school, our relatives, our friends and society in general. Sometimes it seems that we spend most or all of our lives according to the expectations from all our surroundings. Few of us have the time, courage or energy to find out what we really want in our deepest part of our being. Thus in the final stage of their lives a great number of people realize that they have wasted a big part of their time on earth trying to satisfy the expectations of others, rather than doing what they really wanted themselves.
It is obvious that we must try to minimize the influence of this ego that causes us so many troubles. One of the methods is to meditate and bypass the ego to enter a more subtle and more harmonious stage of consciousness. The more time we spend in this non-ego state, the less time we give attention to the ego, thus minimizing its influence.
Another method is to try to fight the ego in the ego-conscious mind itself. If we can convince ourselves intellectually that what the ego represents is not appropriate, then with time and effort we can also reduce the bad influence from this ego.
Maybe a good approach would be to combine the two methods. Imagine that we meditate regularly trying to balance our conscious and subconscious mind to become more relaxed and harmonious. If, simultaneously, we constantly try to observe our thoughts and behavior and every time we encounter an inappropriate ego-thought we immediately exchange this thought with a constructive one, then our whole perception of the world should change.
Since the ego includes what we have learned from our surroundings, it is obvious that the evolution of society will affect the ego as well. Societies also have a certain morality, and the more spiritually developed the societies, the less harmful the egos ought to be.
Considering that societies are moving in the right direction, the next generations will be less egocentric and more spiritual. In the meantime we can make our own personal efforts to handle our proper egos in the best way.
Of course, I am aware that we don't all have the same perception of what is appropriate or inappropriate. Some people are very spiritual and others are not. I suggest that we fight the ego, but maybe others are living their lives on the ego's terms and having no problem with that. However, I hope that this article can be of some inspiration.
For many years I have been reading a lot of spiritual books, and it is clear to me that what we call the ego in spiritual terminology is causing all the suffering in ourselves and in the world around us as well. The ego is controlling our lives and it fills us with fear, worries and anxiety. The ego may convince us that this or that is dangerous, that our dreams can't be fulfilled, that what we want is impossible for all thinkable reasons, etc.
The ego includes everything we have been told by our parents, the school, our relatives, our friends and society in general. Sometimes it seems that we spend most or all of our lives according to the expectations from all our surroundings. Few of us have the time, courage or energy to find out what we really want in our deepest part of our being. Thus in the final stage of their lives a great number of people realize that they have wasted a big part of their time on earth trying to satisfy the expectations of others, rather than doing what they really wanted themselves.
It is obvious that we must try to minimize the influence of this ego that causes us so many troubles. One of the methods is to meditate and bypass the ego to enter a more subtle and more harmonious stage of consciousness. The more time we spend in this non-ego state, the less time we give attention to the ego, thus minimizing its influence.
Another method is to try to fight the ego in the ego-conscious mind itself. If we can convince ourselves intellectually that what the ego represents is not appropriate, then with time and effort we can also reduce the bad influence from this ego.
Maybe a good approach would be to combine the two methods. Imagine that we meditate regularly trying to balance our conscious and subconscious mind to become more relaxed and harmonious. If, simultaneously, we constantly try to observe our thoughts and behavior and every time we encounter an inappropriate ego-thought we immediately exchange this thought with a constructive one, then our whole perception of the world should change.
Since the ego includes what we have learned from our surroundings, it is obvious that the evolution of society will affect the ego as well. Societies also have a certain morality, and the more spiritually developed the societies, the less harmful the egos ought to be.
Considering that societies are moving in the right direction, the next generations will be less egocentric and more spiritual. In the meantime we can make our own personal efforts to handle our proper egos in the best way.
Of course, I am aware that we don't all have the same perception of what is appropriate or inappropriate. Some people are very spiritual and others are not. I suggest that we fight the ego, but maybe others are living their lives on the ego's terms and having no problem with that. However, I hope that this article can be of some inspiration.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
What’s the Penalty for Breaking the Law of Attraction?
Supposedly it is always working for everybody and whatever we concentrate our thoughts about will determine the outcome in our lives. Therefore there will never be any penalty to pay. However, there is a risk that we may think thoughts that will lead to an outcome that we really don’t want.
But why should we think thoughts that are not appropriate for us? Well, one reason might be that we have been taught a lot of things by our parents, family, friends, the school and society in general. A lot of this teaching does not lead to happiness and prosperity according to the law of attraction. Many of us have learned a lot more about seeing restrictions, limitations and risks than about finding possibilities and opportunities. During our childhood most of us have had bad experiences and disappointments. We have all made a lot of mistakes and experienced the unpleasant results. Hence, with time, many of us are now afraid of even trying to pursue our dreams and goals. Therefore we hold ourselves back instead of actively and creatively trying to live in prosperity and abundance.
Because of our fear of being disappointed (again) we use a lot of energy thinking of all the reasons why things should not turn out well instead of thinking of all the chances that it might actually be a success. According to the law of attraction, the thoughts we hold in our minds will manifest in our physical universe, so instead of getting what we want we prevent ourselves from receiving it.
Is it possible, then, to change our way of thinking according to the law of attraction? Well, I don’t see why not. If we believe in this law we will be highly motivated to changing our thought patterns. The degree of difficulty in doing so will depend on how strongly the old thought system is established. If we have spent 50 years or more in learning the old way, it might require some effort to actually reverse it; but if we are much younger, it should be a lot easier. In any case, it must be possible if we really practice the new way of thinking.
Is it worth the effort? Well, the only way to find out is to try it and see for ourselves. Or maybe you can already confirm it? Have you been consciously living according to the law of attraction so far? If yes: Has your own life been as you wanted it to be? If yes, you are a happy user of the law. If no: Either you didn’t use it properly or the law doesn’t work for you. If you think you used it wrong, you can try to correct your mistakes and try again. Many of us have not been aware of the law of attraction so far, so we have to try to apply it to our lives if we want to find out if it works or not. Is there any reason not to try?
Supposedly it is always working for everybody and whatever we concentrate our thoughts about will determine the outcome in our lives. Therefore there will never be any penalty to pay. However, there is a risk that we may think thoughts that will lead to an outcome that we really don’t want.
But why should we think thoughts that are not appropriate for us? Well, one reason might be that we have been taught a lot of things by our parents, family, friends, the school and society in general. A lot of this teaching does not lead to happiness and prosperity according to the law of attraction. Many of us have learned a lot more about seeing restrictions, limitations and risks than about finding possibilities and opportunities. During our childhood most of us have had bad experiences and disappointments. We have all made a lot of mistakes and experienced the unpleasant results. Hence, with time, many of us are now afraid of even trying to pursue our dreams and goals. Therefore we hold ourselves back instead of actively and creatively trying to live in prosperity and abundance.
Because of our fear of being disappointed (again) we use a lot of energy thinking of all the reasons why things should not turn out well instead of thinking of all the chances that it might actually be a success. According to the law of attraction, the thoughts we hold in our minds will manifest in our physical universe, so instead of getting what we want we prevent ourselves from receiving it.
Is it possible, then, to change our way of thinking according to the law of attraction? Well, I don’t see why not. If we believe in this law we will be highly motivated to changing our thought patterns. The degree of difficulty in doing so will depend on how strongly the old thought system is established. If we have spent 50 years or more in learning the old way, it might require some effort to actually reverse it; but if we are much younger, it should be a lot easier. In any case, it must be possible if we really practice the new way of thinking.
Is it worth the effort? Well, the only way to find out is to try it and see for ourselves. Or maybe you can already confirm it? Have you been consciously living according to the law of attraction so far? If yes: Has your own life been as you wanted it to be? If yes, you are a happy user of the law. If no: Either you didn’t use it properly or the law doesn’t work for you. If you think you used it wrong, you can try to correct your mistakes and try again. Many of us have not been aware of the law of attraction so far, so we have to try to apply it to our lives if we want to find out if it works or not. Is there any reason not to try?
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Here in the beginning of 2007 the law of attraction, which means that we attract what we concentrate our minds about, is a hot topic. The film “The Secret” has been watched by many people all over the world, and many coaches tell their clients to apply this law properly to their lives. Why is this law of attraction so interesting? Well, if this law really exists, obviously it is a means of receiving good (or bad) things in our lives. Ultimately it makes us creators in our own universal existence. Imagine the impact this has upon our religious beliefs: Instead of asking God for help, we imagine what we want, believe that it will manifest in this way, and then it will be like that. Is this really the case?
Obviously, we can’t want and expect our parents to live forever; and then they will live forever, so there must be things that we can’t control (at least not completely). Does this eliminate the law of attraction then? Personally, I don’t think so. To me it is very possible that we live in a universe that is governed by rules from some great intelligence (God or guiding principle or whatever we prefer to call it), but we have the possibility to act individually within a certain predefined frame.
If you want to make a plan for a new city you will certainly determine the position of the railroads, the main streets (and maybe also the smaller streets), the major buildings (train station, public buildings, etc.); but you would not plan the looks of each individual house in the streets (how could you?). There will be plenty of room for individual wishes and creativity in designing these houses. In the same way, it is very logical that whoever or whatever created our universe (including us, the human beings) designed the overall rules and frames but left room for us to act individually. If not we would have no free will at all.
So it might very well be the case that we have a lot of influence upon our own lives, that to a large extend we can create it ourselves. Of course, we are still subject to universal (or divine) laws, but we might certainly be able to affect our own earthly lives much more than we ever thought.
Some wise men claim that the whole universe (including our own bodies) is one big illusion in our minds. This is, of course, a possibility not to be ruled out; and if that is the case, then why use any effort trying to improve the illusion? Wouldn’t it be better to get rid of the illusion instead? This is a very logical argument; and provided that we can get rid of the illusion quickly and live in eternal peace afterwards, it might be a waste of time trying to improve our experience of the illusion. But if it is not that immediate, and if we don’t know how to free ourselves from the illusion, then why not live a better illusion?
Obviously, we can’t want and expect our parents to live forever; and then they will live forever, so there must be things that we can’t control (at least not completely). Does this eliminate the law of attraction then? Personally, I don’t think so. To me it is very possible that we live in a universe that is governed by rules from some great intelligence (God or guiding principle or whatever we prefer to call it), but we have the possibility to act individually within a certain predefined frame.
If you want to make a plan for a new city you will certainly determine the position of the railroads, the main streets (and maybe also the smaller streets), the major buildings (train station, public buildings, etc.); but you would not plan the looks of each individual house in the streets (how could you?). There will be plenty of room for individual wishes and creativity in designing these houses. In the same way, it is very logical that whoever or whatever created our universe (including us, the human beings) designed the overall rules and frames but left room for us to act individually. If not we would have no free will at all.
So it might very well be the case that we have a lot of influence upon our own lives, that to a large extend we can create it ourselves. Of course, we are still subject to universal (or divine) laws, but we might certainly be able to affect our own earthly lives much more than we ever thought.
Some wise men claim that the whole universe (including our own bodies) is one big illusion in our minds. This is, of course, a possibility not to be ruled out; and if that is the case, then why use any effort trying to improve the illusion? Wouldn’t it be better to get rid of the illusion instead? This is a very logical argument; and provided that we can get rid of the illusion quickly and live in eternal peace afterwards, it might be a waste of time trying to improve our experience of the illusion. But if it is not that immediate, and if we don’t know how to free ourselves from the illusion, then why not live a better illusion?
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Author Gunnar Jensen
In several spiritual belief systems the law of karma is an important ingredient. This law implies that whatever we give out will be returned to us in some way - that good is being repaid with good and bad with bad.
This is a logical thought, and combined with the reincarnation principle it might actually explain some of the injustice we perceive in the world (like why some people seem to have all the luck and others have all the difficulties and bad destinies).
Today it is widely accepted in many circles that we attract what we really focus on in our minds. According to this law of attraction, our minds shape our surroundings so that we create our own future according to what we hold in our minds. If we are positive and feeling good, we are creating positive and good future situations; and being negative we create future negative situations. If we really want something (material or personal), we are to visualize this wish in our minds, imagining that we already have it, and enjoying the good feelings it is causing. Supposedly our surrounding universe will then arrange whatever is necessary to fulfill the wish.
This is also a plausible thought, and there are many examples of people having changed their lives by changing their way of thinking and feeling. To some degree I have had the same experience from my own life, and I believe that this is a great help in creating the life in the way that we want it.
Personally, I find the law of karma very probable and the law of attraction as well. I am wondering, though, in which way the two laws can work together. As a simple example: Imagine that somebody with a standard level of living wants to be very rich and wealthy and thus concentrates a lot of energy towards this dream - visualizing having a big mansion, expensive cars, and so on. Imagine also that this person has a karma (from this or earlier lives) stating that he has to experience poverty (because earlier he was creating wealth at the expense of others). Which law is the strongest then?
Is it possible for this person to accomplish his dream of wealth in this life? If yes, is he postponing his karma then? Is it possible that he might be wealthy in this life “paying” his karma in another way?
If both laws are working in the universe, and we all have some kind of karmic debt to pay (because we would not be here if not), then we can do a lot of things to make our lives more happy; but we can’t avoid some kind of “suffering” because we have to pay this karmic debt.
All in all, though, even if we can’t create our current lives completely because of our karmic debt, we can certainly try to make our lives as happy as possible - and of course try to avoid creating more bad karma that will hit us in the future.
In several spiritual belief systems the law of karma is an important ingredient. This law implies that whatever we give out will be returned to us in some way - that good is being repaid with good and bad with bad.
This is a logical thought, and combined with the reincarnation principle it might actually explain some of the injustice we perceive in the world (like why some people seem to have all the luck and others have all the difficulties and bad destinies).
Today it is widely accepted in many circles that we attract what we really focus on in our minds. According to this law of attraction, our minds shape our surroundings so that we create our own future according to what we hold in our minds. If we are positive and feeling good, we are creating positive and good future situations; and being negative we create future negative situations. If we really want something (material or personal), we are to visualize this wish in our minds, imagining that we already have it, and enjoying the good feelings it is causing. Supposedly our surrounding universe will then arrange whatever is necessary to fulfill the wish.
This is also a plausible thought, and there are many examples of people having changed their lives by changing their way of thinking and feeling. To some degree I have had the same experience from my own life, and I believe that this is a great help in creating the life in the way that we want it.
Personally, I find the law of karma very probable and the law of attraction as well. I am wondering, though, in which way the two laws can work together. As a simple example: Imagine that somebody with a standard level of living wants to be very rich and wealthy and thus concentrates a lot of energy towards this dream - visualizing having a big mansion, expensive cars, and so on. Imagine also that this person has a karma (from this or earlier lives) stating that he has to experience poverty (because earlier he was creating wealth at the expense of others). Which law is the strongest then?
Is it possible for this person to accomplish his dream of wealth in this life? If yes, is he postponing his karma then? Is it possible that he might be wealthy in this life “paying” his karma in another way?
If both laws are working in the universe, and we all have some kind of karmic debt to pay (because we would not be here if not), then we can do a lot of things to make our lives more happy; but we can’t avoid some kind of “suffering” because we have to pay this karmic debt.
All in all, though, even if we can’t create our current lives completely because of our karmic debt, we can certainly try to make our lives as happy as possible - and of course try to avoid creating more bad karma that will hit us in the future.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Author Gunnar Jensen
Is a Guilty Conscience Good or Bad?
Most people have a guilty conscience from time to time. Being humans we are not always able to do the right things in all circumstances. From early childhood we are told what is right and wrong from all sorts of sources like parents, family members, the school, society in general, etc. Unfortunately this teaching may be contradicting and confusing. For instance, our parents might tell us one thing and the school a quite different thing. We receive a lot of impressions all the time, and it is obvious that people have very different opinions about a lot of issues. They may be for or against subjects like war, death penalty, abortion, etc.
The various religions also have different ideas about morality. Fortunately they all agree on some very important topics like: don’t steal, don’t kill, don’t lie, love and respect others, be compassionate and helpful, etc. Still the interpretation and the various types of sanctions if people don’t keep the rules are very different. Furthermore, the perception of right and wrong changes (sometimes dramatically) over time.
All this means is that some people have a guilty conscience about things that others would find completely acceptable. Should we not have a guilty conscience then? Are we only reacting to ideas put into our minds from people who are (or were) old-fashioned, mistaken, undeveloped, ignorant, or weird? Or is there an intuitive part of us feeling guilty whenever we react in ways that are not appropriate? Can civilization (as we know it) survive without the existence of conscience? How did we evolve from more primitive beings to modern day people living in democratic societies with social welfare and all that sort of thing?
To me it seems appropriate that somebody who hurts another person has a guilty conscience about it. In that way the individual will not be repeating the same thing and probably he/she will even try to compensate the person being hurt in one way or the other. To me it seems that some degree of guilty conscience is a necessary part of modern society, so the difficult part is to find out which kind of guilty conscience is derived from some kind of teaching from others and which kind is our own intuitive and original feeling. In the first case we should consider whether we have the feeling because we are or were hurting someone, or if we are just reacting according to some kind of norms defined by somebody else and in no way doing any harm to anybody. If no harm is involved, then maybe we should drop the guilty conscience?
Guilty conscience is a negative feeling and probably we should try to avoid it as much as possible. On the other hand, we seem to need it to some degree and we can’t escape it completely. Therefore we might try to consider all the guilty conscience that we have inherited from others without really questioning the reason; and if it is not corresponding to our real ideas, then why should we keep it?
Most of us also have some guilty conscience with good reason because we really did something wrong according to our innermost feelings. In my opinion this is good because it means that we have human feelings; but if it is destroying our lives with feelings of guilt, maybe we should do whatever we can to compensate for the inappropriate action and then try to forgive ourselves (as we would also forgive other people).
Is a Guilty Conscience Good or Bad?
Most people have a guilty conscience from time to time. Being humans we are not always able to do the right things in all circumstances. From early childhood we are told what is right and wrong from all sorts of sources like parents, family members, the school, society in general, etc. Unfortunately this teaching may be contradicting and confusing. For instance, our parents might tell us one thing and the school a quite different thing. We receive a lot of impressions all the time, and it is obvious that people have very different opinions about a lot of issues. They may be for or against subjects like war, death penalty, abortion, etc.
The various religions also have different ideas about morality. Fortunately they all agree on some very important topics like: don’t steal, don’t kill, don’t lie, love and respect others, be compassionate and helpful, etc. Still the interpretation and the various types of sanctions if people don’t keep the rules are very different. Furthermore, the perception of right and wrong changes (sometimes dramatically) over time.
All this means is that some people have a guilty conscience about things that others would find completely acceptable. Should we not have a guilty conscience then? Are we only reacting to ideas put into our minds from people who are (or were) old-fashioned, mistaken, undeveloped, ignorant, or weird? Or is there an intuitive part of us feeling guilty whenever we react in ways that are not appropriate? Can civilization (as we know it) survive without the existence of conscience? How did we evolve from more primitive beings to modern day people living in democratic societies with social welfare and all that sort of thing?
To me it seems appropriate that somebody who hurts another person has a guilty conscience about it. In that way the individual will not be repeating the same thing and probably he/she will even try to compensate the person being hurt in one way or the other. To me it seems that some degree of guilty conscience is a necessary part of modern society, so the difficult part is to find out which kind of guilty conscience is derived from some kind of teaching from others and which kind is our own intuitive and original feeling. In the first case we should consider whether we have the feeling because we are or were hurting someone, or if we are just reacting according to some kind of norms defined by somebody else and in no way doing any harm to anybody. If no harm is involved, then maybe we should drop the guilty conscience?
Guilty conscience is a negative feeling and probably we should try to avoid it as much as possible. On the other hand, we seem to need it to some degree and we can’t escape it completely. Therefore we might try to consider all the guilty conscience that we have inherited from others without really questioning the reason; and if it is not corresponding to our real ideas, then why should we keep it?
Most of us also have some guilty conscience with good reason because we really did something wrong according to our innermost feelings. In my opinion this is good because it means that we have human feelings; but if it is destroying our lives with feelings of guilt, maybe we should do whatever we can to compensate for the inappropriate action and then try to forgive ourselves (as we would also forgive other people).
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