Guilt is an unpleasant feeling that can arise when someone has done something wrong. It may result from doing something harmful to others or violating their trust, whether intentionally or accidentally. Religious absolution is a process in which a person seeks forgiveness for their sins through confession, repentance, and atonement. Although religious absolution may be successful in reducing the feelings of guilt, some people still experience lingering guilt after receiving it. This psychological tension arises due to various factors such as a lack of genuine repentance, incomplete reparation, trauma, and cognitive dissonance.
When a person commits a sin, they may feel guilty because they have harmed another person's physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or social well-being. They may also feel ashamed of themselves and regret their actions. To alleviate this guilt, they may seek religious absolution through confession and repentance. During this process, they confess their sins to a priest or other religious leader, who offers guidance and advice on how to make amends.
If the person does not truly repent and makes no effort to change their behavior, the guilt may persist despite absolution.
If a person steals money but does not return it or make up for the loss, they may continue to experience guilt despite seeking absolution.
If a person has suffered trauma related to their sin, such as sexual abuse or betrayal, they may find it difficult to move on even with absolution. The memories and pain associated with the sin can linger long after the event, leading to continued guilt. Similarly, if the person is unable to resolve cognitive dissonance caused by their sin, they may struggle to reconcile their beliefs with their actions.
A devout Christian may continue to experience guilt despite receiving absolution if they believe that their action was morally wrong according to their faith.
While religious absolution can be an effective way to reduce feelings of guilt, some people may still experience psychological tension when their guilt persists despite receiving forgiveness. This may result from a lack of genuine repentance, unresolved trauma, or cognitive dissonance. It is essential to address these factors to fully overcome the lingering effects of guilt.
What psychological tension arises when guilt persists despite religious absolution?
The feeling of guilt is an unpleasant emotion that can arise from personal failures or wrongdoing and cause individuals to experience feelings of remorse or self-blame. Religious absolution refers to the act of seeking forgiveness for one's sins through religious practices such as confession or repentance.