Editorial: Sin and Guilt

It is undeniable that notions o f  sin and guilt play a significant role
in human life and human thought. That is why we have chosen sin and
guilt as the theme o f  this issue o f  Jnanadeepa.
In order to gain a broader understanding o f sin and guilt we shall
discuss them from interdisciplinary perspectives. We shall not only
examine the meaning sin and guilt have in different traditions and
disciplines but also investigate the role they play in different world­
views.
There is an article in this issue which seeks to develop psychological 
perspectives on sin and guilt. For a long time most psychologists were
reluctant to explore sin since it seemed to be closely related to religion
and theology. In recent years a number o f  psychologists have been 
showing some interest in the study of sin. Guilt is a favourite theme in
psychoanalysis. It is true that an exaggerated sense o f  guilt can lead to 
depression. And yet the lack o f  a sense o f  guilt can result in the
formation o f  an antisocial personality. But a healthy sense o f  guilt has
many pro-social benefits.