"Let your conscience be your guide," chirped Jiminy Cricket. But chirping is one thing, doing is another. And sorting out your own motives for behavior can be a puzzle.
Do you live by your conscience, your inner sense of right and wrong, with an urge to do right?
Paul taught that those who depart from the faith have their conscience "seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:2).
Indeed, the biggest human problem, according to psychiatrist Dr. N.S. Xavier, is people not living by conscience. He believes people can use real conscience to make good choices in handling needs like power, pleasure, esteem and meaning. Much conflict between individuals and groups — including terrorism and war — are caused by not using conscience.
In his new book, "Fulfillment Using Real Conscience: Practical Guide for Psychological and Spiritual Wellness," the Alabama-based psychiatrist has integrated spirituality into his practice.
In trying to understand why we make the kind of choices we make, Xavier realized that all choices are related to human needs. We have two inner guides as social and spiritual beings.
In his struggle to integrate the psychiatric and the spiritual, he noticed that Freud was right. We have a socially programmed superego. But Freud's idea that conscience is the negative aspect of superego was wrong while spiritual masters like Paul and Gandhi were right on conscience.
Xavier found that the word "conscience" is used 31 times in the New Testament.
He stressed that if a person is too emotional, they can't use their conscience. He also feels that the use of alcohol and drugs can deaden conscience.
"In judging what is good, conscience uses the Golden Rule of fairness and justice to others and the ethical principle of doing what is good — or useful and not harmful — for oneself in the long run," he writes.
Based on teachings in the Bible, Xavier believes "conscience judges with a loving/compassionate heart." Paul called conscience "the law written in the heart." (Romans 2:15).
Xavier believes whether a person is religious or not, conscientious individuals live longer and have better psychological health.
"Conscience is the key to spiritual strength," he wrote. "Using our consciences, we can overcome racism, sexism and other identity 'isms.'"
What do Christian churches say about conscience?
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America believes in Martin Luther's definition: "For conscience is not the power to do works, but to judge them. The proper work of conscience (as Paul says in Romans 2 [:15]), is to accuse or excuse, to make guilty or guiltless, uncertain or certain. Its purpose is not to do, but to pass judgment on what has been done and what should be done."
According to their Web site, www.elca.org, Lutherans also believe that human beings are fallible and that no one can achieve moral perfection. They believe that conscience is the power to make moral judgments about action but do not believe that conscience is some sort of implanted, unerring message from God. Conscientious convictions can be wrong.
Lutherans do not believe that their salvation rests on the correctness of morals or practice. It is by God's grace in Christ received in faith that people are saved.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "The natural conscience of the Christian is known by him to act not alone, but under the enlightenment and the impulse derived from revelation and grace in a strictly supernatural order."
It also states that, "Being a practical thing, conscience depends in large measure for its correctness upon the good use of it and on proper care taken to heed its deliverances, cultivate its powers and frustrate its enemies. Even where due diligence is employed conscience will err sometimes, but its inculpable mistakes will be admitted by God to be not blameworthy."
Presbyterians believe that "God alone is Lord of the conscience" and he does not give us carte blanche to do whatever we think is right (www.pcusa.org)." They believe conscience alone cannot reliably guide us, because it is marred by sin. Scripture teaches that individual liberty should be constrained out of regard for another believer's conscience.
Presbyterians believe that if "three correctives — balance, humility and sensitivity to others — are remembered, liberty will not be confused with license. And God will again be Lord of the conscience."
Seventh Day Adventists recognize that true religion is based on conscience and conviction.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that the light of Christ is endowed to every person in the world to know good from evil and is basically their conscience. Church members also believe they have the guidance of the Holy Ghost, if they live worthily.
e-mail: lynn@desnews.com