Mental Illness as Sin: Sin as Neurosis

Publication Date: December 1977

Publisher: Jewish Communal Service Association of North America

Author(s): Moshe HaLevi Spero; Marvin Wikler

Research Area: Culture and religion; Health

Keywords: Mental Health; Sin; Jewish Law (Halacha)

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

This article was written in response to Marvin Wikler's piece in the Summer 1977 issue (53:4) of this journal. Mr. Wikler, in turn, comments following this article. The author states that in the simplese sense it was desirable to compare sin with the clinical notion of neurosis for this emphasizes the idea that sin is also a state involving dynamic psychic conflict. However, he argues that it is even more advantageous to compare sin with the existential connotation of neurosis, where both sin and neurosis represent conduct which reflects fundamental contradictions in the human situation.

In Journal of Jewish Communal Service, v.54 no.2, Winter 1977.