\"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