The association between sexuality and collective guilt has been a recurring theme in religious apocalyptic narratives throughout history. In these stories, the world is portrayed as being on the brink of collapse due to humanity's moral failures, which are often represented as deviant sexual behavior, particularly homosexuality and other forms of non-heteronormative desires. This association stems from the belief that sexual activity outside of traditional gender roles and marriage can lead to societal decay and spiritual corruption. By depicting queer desire as a symbol of this decline, religious traditions have used fear of morality to justify their own moral judgments and reinforce social norms.
This psychological mechanism is rooted in the concept of collective guilt, which refers to the idea that a group's actions reflect upon its members and affect their collective identity. When an individual engages in forbidden behaviors like sex outside of marriage or same-sex relationships, they are seen as bringing shame upon their community and tarnishing its reputation. This shame leads to feelings of self-blame and internalized guilt, which are then projected onto outsiders who are perceived as embodying these transgressions. As such, queer individuals become scapegoats for society's collective anxieties and fears about its moral shortcomings.
Apocalyptic narratives play into this dynamic by presenting these fears as real threats to the survival of civilization, using dramatic language and imagery to convey the devastating consequences of immoral behavior. These stories often include graphic descriptions of punishment for sinful acts, emphasizing the severity of the consequences and the need for repentance. They also portray apocalyptic events as divine retribution for humanity's collective guilt, suggesting that only through extreme measures can society be saved from destruction.
By linking sexuality and collective guilt, religious traditions have justified their own power structures and reinforced cultural norms.
These narratives also reveal something deeper about our collective psyche - namely, our desire to avoid facing our own imperfections and seek external sources of blame. In doing so, we fail to take responsibility for our actions and perpetuate cycles of violence against marginalized groups. Only by recognizing the psychological mechanisms underlying our fear of morality can we begin to address these issues and move towards a more compassionate and inclusive worldview.