A psychaiatrist's take on sin

Awake at half past seven, listening to the news and Thought for the Day, then up and taking photos of the rising sun through a veil of orange cloud, an awesome start to the day. After breakfast the second Reith Lecture about violence by Dr Gwen Adshead. Interesting discourse and debate about the nature of evil in which she proposed that it's more helpful to consider evil as an adjective describing a state of mind which  can drive human behaviour in reaction to a variety of negative circumstances, bearing in mind we have a choice about whether or not to act on the impulse to violence. 

Ability to control such negative impulse can be impaired by both social and individual influences; poverty, abuse, drugs, dehumanising ideology etc. Spending time ruminating on greed lust anger envy and pride, whether alone or on social media is the kind of activity which could edge the most 'normal' person towards an evil state of mind. 

Harbouring evil thoughts and impulses can be related usefully to dwelling on of the seven deadly sins. Pride leads to egotism and denigration of others. Gluttony and lust are about selfish appetites and emotions out of control. Greed and envy arise from questioning if there's enough to go round. Extremes of inequality can give rise to unjustifiable violence. Sloth is the ultimate in not caring about anything, disengaging from the world. It can driver despair, a risk factor for suicide and even homicide.  Anger is a reaction to pain and fear, a response that can protect and save life if enacted in the right circumstances, but can lead to hatred in an evil state of mind and to violence . Nobody is immune to the effect of sin. Everyone must be awake to its influence and cultivate a mindset of goodness, compassion and gratitude to protect protect themselves from evil influences.

I found this a most engaging interpretation for a diverse secular audience of moral and spiritual teaching that resonated through different religious faiths. It is of course based on the experience and life's work of a woman committed to healing broken people with the ability to see herself in them. I downloaded the audio of the lecture and listened to it again, to make sure I had taken it all in. 

Meanwhile, Clare went off to her study group in Cowbridge, and I made lunch for when she returned, later than usual. I spent some time writing a letter, then went for a walk. Again I got back after sunset. The sky looked beautiful but the temperature had dropped by nearly ten degrees by the time I returned. Very chilly. I had supper early with her, as she was going out again to meditation group. I wrote for a while and then watched two more episodes of Lykkeland until it was time for bed.