Shame and Guilt
Shame is public; guilt is private.
Shame is subjective; guilt is objective.
Shame comes from our perception of how others perceive us; guilt comes from how we measure up against a standard.
A court pronounces one guilty; society pronounces us worthy of shame.
Adam felt shame; he was already guilty.
We can choose to feel shame and be enslaved by it; we choose to be guilty by violating a legal or moral or theoligcal standard.
The fall narrative has psychological and cultural and psychic significance, even if one doesn't believe its historicity. The reason I think it stays with us is because it is true at many levels.
Shame is subjective; guilt is objective.
Shame comes from our perception of how others perceive us; guilt comes from how we measure up against a standard.
A court pronounces one guilty; society pronounces us worthy of shame.
Adam felt shame; he was already guilty.
We can choose to feel shame and be enslaved by it; we choose to be guilty by violating a legal or moral or theoligcal standard.
The fall narrative has psychological and cultural and psychic significance, even if one doesn't believe its historicity. The reason I think it stays with us is because it is true at many levels.
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