“Love your neighbor,” “forgive, and you will be forgiven,” “turn away evil, cling to good,” the New Testament and other biblical texts dictate rules that religious people accept as a guide to action. It is not surprising that others expect exactly this from them — mercy, patience, generosity, kindness … After all, each of us is what he believes in and what he follows, isn’t it?
“This opinion cannot be either refuted or confirmed,” says priest and psychologist Andrei Lorgus. — The fact is that the concept of “good” does not have an unambiguous, universal interpretation. Each religion puts forward its own norms, and secular people, all the more, understand it differently, depending on the upbringing and culture in which they grew up. And therefore an act that is good for one may turn out to be evil for another.
Even the gospel commandments can be interpreted by believers in different ways. Is it possible to consider a good person who undertook to arrange the fate of a beggar instead of running to meet the person who is waiting for him? The one who took bread from one to feed another?
“Remember the parable of the good Samaritan who bandaged the wounds of a beaten man, took care of him, and the priest and the Levite passed by,” the psychologist continues. — Why did they show callousness? They hurried to serve in Jerusalem and probably justified themselves by saying that love for God is more important than love for a stranger. Here is a clear example of a false understanding of the commandments and confirmation of the fact that religious people are no closer to goodness and the fulfillment of commandments than non-religious people.
It is especially difficult for the fulfillment of the commandments to be given to those who from childhood do not feel safe, do not trust others.
A believing person, just like an unbeliever, inevitably faces what Jung called our Shadow — with cowardice, aggression, weaknesses, greed, selfishness, fears. He may sincerely want to overcome the shortcomings that prevent him from fulfilling the Fa, but this does not mean that he will successfully cope with them.
Another big obstacle is family attitudes, which are laid down at an early age and become the norm for the child. “Do not give to the poor, they are loafers!”, “Think about your interests”, “If you allow your husband an insult, he will sit on your neck.” How can someone who has been guided by these beliefs all his life forgive the enemy? Give alms and forget about it? But only in this case can a Christian consider himself truly good.
It is especially difficult to fulfill the commandments for those who have not felt safe since childhood, do not trust others, and are afraid to demonstrate vulnerability. He is quite capable of adhering to moral standards — to remain kind, benevolent, provide all possible assistance and support to those in need, but he may not be able to accept his neighbor with all his heart, open up to him in his love, without fear of “losing face”.
“The Gospel commandments are the highest moral bar, and it is much more difficult for a Christian to call himself good than for an unbeliever,” Andrei Lorgus is convinced. “Although church ceremonies, prayers certainly help to analyze your actions, beliefs and become a little more loving and merciful.”