How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.

whole nature of conflict can be graphically described by the dramatic tortures of the man who should be running forward to stop a runaway horse, but stands in one place, jumping from one foot to another because he apparently cannot decide which foot should take the first step. In such a situation no objective bystander could have any doubts about the man’s deep intention not to go forward. Conflicts exist largely because of the average man’s ignorance of their meaning—and because of the finesse with which they are “ arranged ” by those who need such devious tools to excuse their faint-heartedness. The sense of guilt—the most modern of all bogeys— is closely related psychologically to conflict, doubt, and indecision. The sense of guilt is often one of the untoward results of early authoritarian education or of vicious theological training. As most intelligent people grow older and more mature and begin to contribute to the commonweal, thus beginning to earn a sense of self¬ esteem based on their contributions and cooperation, the sense of guilt, like the fear of spankings, of teachers’ censure, of bogey-men, or of imminent hell-fire and brimstone, is largely diluted. Often the sense of guilt is associated with the clandestine practice of masturbation during childhood. It is distinctly the product of a patriarchal civilization which tends to frown upon any evidences of growing sexual maturity in the child. There are, no doubt, a great many adults who grow up in the fear of the consequences of youthful misdeeds, sexual and otherwise, which some strict parent, teacher, or ecclesiastic has impressed upon them. Such a sense of guilt is automatically dispelled as soon as knowledge and maturity sweep away the superstitions and fears of child¬ hood. If the sense of guilt remains, or if it is complicated by tendencies to self-abasement, remorse, self-torture, self-punishment, or penance in whatever form, you may be certain that that individual finds his sense of guilt a very useful tool in the attainment of his goal. The meaning of the sense of guilt, as well as the meaning of remorse, penance, contrition, self-punishment,