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EVANGELICAL CASUISTRY
popularly known as ‘inferiority complexes’, usually have the
effect of increasing the sufferer’s self-centredness. Is this
selfcentredness a nervous symptom or is it sin? Many people with
strong feelings of inferiority unfortunately ‘succeed’ in
compensating for them by overtly aggressive behaviour, or oscillate
between self-depreciation and self-assertion. Is this
self-centredness pride, or should it be called neurotic over-compensation ?
Anxiety caused by nervous disorder provides another
instance. The condition is usually accompanied by hesitancy
and indecision. It impairs the joy of Christian living, shakes the
assurance of salvation and hinders the individual from being
effective in Christian action. Is this anxiety, which may be
heightened into anguish, to be regarded as a nervous symptom
or as the sin of unbelief?
Consider also the condition of neurasthenia and the increased
irritability, violence of emotional reaction, impetuosity and
lack of mental balance that go with it. It is very difficult to
co-operate with a neurasthenic person. Are the forms of
expression produced by this condition to be accounted sins or
symptoms?
Very often neurasthenic and other nervous conditions are
accompanied by sexual over-sensitiveness, caused primarily by
a psycho-physical imbalance. Has the spiritual adviser the
right to distinguish between sin and symptoms in this situation?
W. L. Northridge?! considers that psychology itself cannot
include the concept of sin. It isa religious idea having no meaning
outside the religious sphere. Many psychologists think that all
ethical and religious questions are expressions of superstition.
They believe that what we call sin is nothing but a form of
moral insanity. On the other hand, psychologists familiar with
religious thought concede that a rational distinction can be
made between sin and moral insanity.
What then is meant by moral insanity?
In general, the term moral insanity denotes the weakening
or dissolution of ethical and moral feelings associated with
certain forms of mental disease or resulting from a number of
organic diseases. It is also used to describe congenital
psychopathy when the lack of the feelings mentioned is a
predominating trait.
1 Health for the Mind and Spirit, New York, 1938.
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