How does GV address Scrupulosity?
Philosophy · asked by user [] · 2010-06-08 · 6 answers
Greetings.
In Christianity, they sometimes speak of Scrupulosity. From Wikipedia:
"Scrupulosity is a psychological disorder characterized by pathological guilt about moral or religious issues. It is personally distressing, objectively dysfunctional, and often accompanied by significant impairment in social functioning.[1] It is typically conceptualized as a moral or religious form of obsessive'96compulsive disorder (OCD),[2] although this categorization is empirically disputable.
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Scrupulosity is the modern-day medical diagnosis that corresponds to a traditional use of the term scruples in a religious context, e.g., by Roman Catholics, to mean obsessive concern with ones own sins and compulsive performance of religious devotion.
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Alphonsus Liguori, the Redemptorists founder, wrote of it as "groundless fear of sinning that arises from erroneous ideas".
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Scrupulositys first known public description as a disorder was in 1691, by John Moore, who called it "religious melancholy" and said it made people "fear, that what they do, is so defective and unfit to be presented unto God, that he will not accept it". Loyola, Liguori, the French confessor R.P. Duguet, and other religious authorities and figures attempted to develop solutions and coping mechanisms;[1] the monthly newsletter Scrupulous Anonymous, published by the followers of Liguori, has been used as an adjunct to therapy.[13] In the 19th century, Christian spiritual advisors in the U.S. and Britain became worried that scrupulosity was not only a sin in itself, but also led to sin, by attacking the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Studies in the mid-20th century reported that scrupulosity was a major problem among American Catholics, with up to 25% of high school students affected; commentators at the time asserted that this was an increase over previous levels.[14]
Starting in the 20th century, individuals with scrupulosity in the U.S. and Britain increasingly began looking to psychiatrists, rather than to religious advisors, for help with their disorder.
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In scrupulosity, a persons obsessions focus on moral or religious fears, such as the fear of being an evil person or the fear of divine retribution for sin.
..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrupulosity
I imagine a similar phenomenon can occur in devotees as well. How does Gaudiya Vaishnavism address it? Is it seen as something that needs to be treated, a kind of an illness?
Thank you for your replies.
In Christianity, they sometimes speak of Scrupulosity. From Wikipedia:
"Scrupulosity is a psychological disorder characterized by pathological guilt about moral or religious issues. It is personally distressing, objectively dysfunctional, and often accompanied by significant impairment in social functioning.[1] It is typically conceptualized as a moral or religious form of obsessive'96compulsive disorder (OCD),[2] although this categorization is empirically disputable.
...
Scrupulosity is the modern-day medical diagnosis that corresponds to a traditional use of the term scruples in a religious context, e.g., by Roman Catholics, to mean obsessive concern with ones own sins and compulsive performance of religious devotion.
...
Alphonsus Liguori, the Redemptorists founder, wrote of it as "groundless fear of sinning that arises from erroneous ideas".
...
Scrupulositys first known public description as a disorder was in 1691, by John Moore, who called it "religious melancholy" and said it made people "fear, that what they do, is so defective and unfit to be presented unto God, that he will not accept it". Loyola, Liguori, the French confessor R.P. Duguet, and other religious authorities and figures attempted to develop solutions and coping mechanisms;[1] the monthly newsletter Scrupulous Anonymous, published by the followers of Liguori, has been used as an adjunct to therapy.[13] In the 19th century, Christian spiritual advisors in the U.S. and Britain became worried that scrupulosity was not only a sin in itself, but also led to sin, by attacking the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Studies in the mid-20th century reported that scrupulosity was a major problem among American Catholics, with up to 25% of high school students affected; commentators at the time asserted that this was an increase over previous levels.[14]
Starting in the 20th century, individuals with scrupulosity in the U.S. and Britain increasingly began looking to psychiatrists, rather than to religious advisors, for help with their disorder.
...
In scrupulosity, a persons obsessions focus on moral or religious fears, such as the fear of being an evil person or the fear of divine retribution for sin.
..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrupulosity
I imagine a similar phenomenon can occur in devotees as well. How does Gaudiya Vaishnavism address it? Is it seen as something that needs to be treated, a kind of an illness?
Thank you for your replies.
user [447] · 2010-06-10
Actually, when I first read that some Christians and others viewed Scrupulosity as a kind of disorder and as such something to cure or overcome, I was very much surprised! I thought that the behavior and thinking defined as "scrupulosity" was normal, but that the problem was only in the person not performing according to the rules properly - and that the solution lies only in performing perfectly.If I see someone behaving unscrupolously, I think that that person must be either indolent, or perfect (as them being spiritually perfect would account for either purposefully doing things that are below perfection, such as for the purpose of teaching others, or that because they are spiritually perfect, it simply doesnt matter anymore how they behave as everything they do is sanctified).
user [265] · 2010-06-08
After purposefully guilt tripping people for centuries, Christianity discovers the side-effects of their methods...I think any fear based religion is prone to creating such problems in people.
user [38] · 2010-06-08
I havent met any devotees with this problem. Bhaktiyoga and fear are in opposition. See BG 2.56, 4.10, 5.27-8,... 18.66.user [447] · 2010-06-09
Not that I consider myself a devotee, but the symptoms described under scrupulosity fit me very much. For example, I sometimes dont cook and dont eat, paralzyed by the fear that the food I prepared is not appropriate to be offered, that I wasnt pure enough, that the kitchen I prepared it in wasnt pure enough and so on. I am not the only one using that kitchen, although I try to keep things clean and see to it that I am the only one using the pots and utensils I need. So I have good reason to believe that I certainly do not live up to the cleanliness standard.
I also dont think that my chanting counts for anything, since I need to clean my nose or drink water during chanting.
In the Vaisnava etiquette manual, it is said that one should not touch something with the foot if one can do it with ones hand. So when I put shoes in place with my foot, I feel very guilty about that - but at the same time, I dont feel like touching them with my hands either. I already have badly worn skin on my hands from washing my hands so often.
There isnt a GV rule or guideline that I know that I wouldnt feel guilty about.
I find it strange that you havent met any devotees with this problem. I would have thought that everyone had such problems in the beginning, but that they somehow overcame them, while I seem to be unable to do so.
user [38] · 2010-06-09
The smartavyah satatam visnu verse (quoted in CC 2.22.113, etc.) puts the rules into a proper perspective.user [565] · 2010-06-11
Hope and help for your nerves. - Dr. Claire Weekes.