Guilt and reconciliation

The starting point of the research is the central place and exceptional significance of the theme GUILT AND RECONCILIATION in the whole of European culture right from the beginnings of literacy. Within the framework of the ancient Near East the biblical texts and other classical Jewish literary documents are of special importance since they have mostly determined European culture for 2000 years. The themes of guilt and reconciliation have been central and constant in all kinds of spiritual culture throughout the human race. Due to its appalling civil and world wars, the twentieth century was particularly marked by guilt and thus automatically calls for a resolution in reconciliation. In this is to be found the relevance and reason for the proposed interdisciplinary project. The subject matter of guilt and reconciliation has been dealt with in recent decades in every field of the sociological and humanistic branches of knowledge, though only partially. This fact clearly shows that methodology represents the hardest question. Most research studies carried out up to now have reflected a one-sided and superficial approach. Some scholars have set about particular aspects of one theme or the other. The deep inner connection between such themes as guilt, punishment, penitence or impenitence and reconciliation or destruction explains why until more recent times there have been no really estensive comparative studies which would deal with the causal link between these themes. The aim of the present programme is the appropriate carrying out of research according to the methodological principles of the individual fields and a constant interdisciplinary assessment of the results. Awareness about guilt and the conceptualization of ways to reconciliation represent a special challenge for proposals on how to undertake projects of a scientific and educational nature in the areas of our life and of activity in general. The programme will take four areas into account: 1. The Bible of the Old and the New Testaments and other ancient Jewish and Christian sources; 2. The psychological laws of guilt and reconciliation; 3. Guilt and reconciliation as a contemporary social phenomenon; 4. The place and meaning of guilt and reconciliation in world literature. The programme group will research into the aspects mentioned, linked by numerous joint consultations. The group''s aim is to investigate the problem of guilt and reconciliation in contemporary Slovenian society within a universal historical framework. The main emphasis will therefore be on the Bible of the Old and New Testaments and other Jewish and Christian sources, which have decisively influenced the development of European culture. The particular aim of the programme group is an precise comparative study of the Dead Sea scrolls and New Testament apocryphal writings within the entire Jewish tradition. The rationale is that no-one in Slovenia has so far researched this field and consequently there are no translations of even the most important texts. The research will be undertaken in accordance with the usual linguistic and literary methods. However, the researchers will also test their findings in the light of the phenomenon of guilt and reconciliation in the realm of recent Slovenian and world literature, psychology and sociology, while also taking account of contemporary philosophical and legal interpretations. The multiple aspects, complexity and relevance of the subject matter urgently call for group work, which makes possible the organization of international scientific consultations as well. The particular aim of the programme group will be to pass on the results of this research at regular scientific meetings, organized by international scientific associations in Europe and elsewhere in the world. The significance of the research programme for science in the broader (international) sense: For the past decade the proposed leader of the programme group has undertaken research...