From: lab@biostat.mc.duke.edu (Lance A. Brown)
Subject: Re: guilt
Date: 24 Mar 1994 04:35:04 GMT

Katie Mann <xg683x@unix1.circ.gwu.edu> writes:
> My question.  Having read some criticisms of Christianity's basis in
> and enforcing of a sense of guilt, I was wondering if guilt had a
> role in Pagan thinking, and if so how?

I feel much the same way Bekki Lyn does.  Guilt of the "YOU ARE GUILTY
AND SHOULD FEEL LIKE HUMAN SLIME"(TM) variety is counterproductive and
useless.  Taking responsibility for your actions, good or bad, is
productive and necessary for people to function together as a society
of equals without the overawing fear of reprisal and guilt to keep you
in line.

Lance
===

From: markbr@radian.com (mark)
Subject: Re: guilt
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 1994 18:14:49 GMT

[...]
   With the standard neoPagan disclaimer (ask any 12 Pagans, and
you'll get at *least* 13 opinions), in all the flavors of neoPaganism,
and as far as I'm aware, guilt has *no* role. Zip. As Mary Lee said in
a response recently, "no carrot. no stick".

   In fact, according to studies, positive reinforcement works *much*
better than negative, in training humans and other animals. Since most
of us think in terms of sharing and pleasure as being what you might
call "gifts of the God(dess)", reward might be seen as having an
inversely analogous role.

	"All acts of pleasure are My rituals"

	mark

*********************************************************************
A Shinto priest, when asked about their dogma and theology, replied,
"We have no dogma. We have no theology. We just dance."
		Dance well, and joyfully.
		   markbr@radian.com 
They don't ask *me* for my opinions at work. I should give *theirs*?
*********************************************************************