Abstract

Attitudes toward collective guilt in the Middle East require us to take a closer look at guilt in the Bible. It turns out the text of Genesis is conflicted. Some passages support a theory of guilt linked with the inevitability of cleansing and punishment; other passages appear to treat guilt as a psychological state that might be cured by a confession of sins. The tension is important today in trying to understand whether the collective guilt of nations should also entail collective punishment.

Recommended Citation

Fletcher, George P. (2004) "Collective Guilt and Collective Punishment," Theoretical Inquiries in Law: Vol. 5 : No. 1, Article 6.
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/til/default/vol5/iss1/art6