A ceationist might consider guilt to be a gift from God to help prevent us from leading lives that ultimately land us in Hell as well as lives that continually hurt those around us (the feelings can definitely be overridden, though).
It is easy enough to look at something and say, "Oh, it is beneficial; therefore, it must be an evolved trait." But, actually, evolution can allow for both beneficial or negative traits (and for that matter, an all-powerful Creator can create both good and evil); so, that is not a good test at all. How would such a test be able to distinguish the evolved from the designed or created?
As a creationist, I am curious as to how science could account for the development of feelings such as guilt within the evolution paradigm.
Are such feelings unique to man? (As a creationist, I would expect that they are; we being the creatures with the knowledge of good and evil.) Do other societal animals--like sheep, wolves, deer, cattle, monkeys, flocking birds, schooling fish, bees, etc.--experience guilt?
What random mutations would have to occur to lead from a non-guilt-feeling group of organisms to guilt-feeling group of organisms? Can it be demonstrated, with any science we have today, that these mutations did indeed take place?
Are there genes, which code for guilty feelings? Which genes? How do these genes cause the individual to be capable of feeling guilt?
Can evolutionists distinguish between fossils of the non-guilt-feeling organisms and the guilt-feeling organisms? Or can they say, "Oh, guilt began to evolve in the Ordovician?"
Just some thoughts as I ponder this idea of guilt in light of the EvC debate.
--TL
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