Conscience

WED., JULY 29, 1987, 5:28 AM
FARM, STUDY

Conscience is a secular term with spiritual implications. You run little risk when you talk about conscience, for it is generally accepted that all “good people” have some development of conscience, that undefined “thing” that differentiates right from wrong… that defines the good as opposed to the bad. Hear, o son, as I talk about conscience and spirit.

Actually, conscience is just an aspect of spirit. Nearly every human has a spirit, which is the live, functioning nature of the immortal soul. This spirit responds to Me, whether this is conscious, on the part of the person, or not. Also, this spirit responds to the teaching and the example of others – parents, siblings, significant other people – in the development of a conscience. Generally this process starts early in life… as soon as decisions are apparently being made and actions are being taken.

Every good parent contributes to the development of conscience. For some the primary motive is one of wanting the child to know right from wrong. For others the motive may be the more selfish one of wanting others to think well of “my child.” (And obviously these can be mixed in many ways.) Thus, in early childhood there is much instruction to “do this,” and both teaching and restriction in regard to “don’t do that.”

The picture becomes a bit muddy, however, when a person does something she shouldn’t or fails to do something she should. Conscience then is obliged to develop some feeling of guilt for not having acted as you should have or, more seriously, not having been what you should have been. Spirit is now torn, for spirit’s inherent “responsibility” is to build self-esteem and self-worth, out of the knowledge that I provide – you are a part of Me, the Holy Spirit, and this makes you of ultimate value. Whatever your form or your circumstances, you are a child of God and are beloved of God, irrespective of your actions.

But the conflict is set. The purpose of guilt feelings is to motivate you away from actions, even thoughts, that stimulate these. If this works… huzzah! Actions are more good, and feelings about self are positive. Yet it doesn’t always work this ideal way. Guilt feelings erode – or even prevent the development of – the sense of self-worth, and without this the internal motives for doing right are harder to generate. Rewards and punishments from others become more and more necessary, and when these are not wonderfully consistent, the person is vulnerable, vulnerable.

Conscience is culturally and even sub-culturally developed. Oh, there are certain gross actions that are rather universally condemned, and some that are valued by most, but there are many variations. For instance, your conscience is attuned to time in terms of keeping appointments. If you were late to your presentation this afternoon you would feel guilty, even if there were a good reason. Yet other people would have much less remorse… and in some cultures there would be no discomfort at all in “being late.”