Date Posted:19:31:34 04/14/05 Thu Author: PECAS Subject: Jimmy Swaggert vs. Samuel Lee In reply to:
Chris
's message, "Shame-based vs. guilt-based culture" on 06:00:15 04/13/05 Wed
An example of the difference between shame-based and guilt-based culture can be observed with Jimmy Swaggert and Samuel Lee. This website has reported that Samuel Lee committed adultery in the early 1980s. Jimmy Swaggert, was famously caught sleeping with prostitutes on two separate occasions. Swaggert chose to publicly repent with many tears for his adultery. Lee chose to cover up his adultery, neither acknowledging his sin, nor repenting. One could argue that Swaggert's repentance was not sincere because he continued in his adultery. If both Swaggert and Lee were repentant, they chose different means to attempt to maintain their status as spiritual leaders. Swaggert, from a guilt-based culture, publicly apologized and Lee, from a shame-based culture, covered up his sin. Both men were attempting to save their face or their reputations. Guilt-based cultures attempt to save face by publicly apologizing, while shame-based cultures attempt to save face by covering up their sin.
One could debate the sincerity of Swaggert's repentance. Nevertheless, Swaggert followed the Biblical principle of repentance. Because he was a church leader, he repented in front of his church. The Bible does not cover up the terrible sins of Peter, Paul, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, or any Godly person discussed in the Bible. Lee did not follow the Biblical principle of repentance or the Biblical example of honestly discussing the sins of leaders and their path to repentance. UBF leaders attempt to fit shame-based ideas into their church practices when issues of leaders' sins are concerned.
