Have you Confessed?

[Ayumi Hamasaki]

The question's in the thread title, so I'll just give my answer.

No, I don't believe in confession. I don't believe that I have to talk to someone else to talk to God. I believe that I can do that myself. I believe that whatever Sins I've commited are between me, god, and, depending on their gravity, the law. I don't understand the reasons why people would submit there greatest flaws to another human being who might use them against you.

I admit that I have never actually had an in depth conversation with someone who confesses about confession, so if anyone wants to correct me or say I'm wrong, please feel free.

So, telll me, have you confessed?

 

[Joey Starfire]

Nope.

I also believe that if im going to talk to my god then i dont have to do it via another person.
Its something i DID consider however. But in the end it works better for me if i talk to him in my prayers.

 

[moogling]

I didn't think that this was in the religious debate section when I read it. I have confessed in other ways, but since this is about religion, no, I have not.

I'm not religious, but my mom's side of the family is Catholic. Luckily, they're not jamming it down my throat. None of them have ever confessed. I don't think my extremely Christian friend has ever confessed, either.

I used to be religious, though. I never once considered confession. You pretty much said it, you are making yourself vulnerable to whatever the person in confession might do with that information. If I needed to feel like God was there, or confess to something, I would have taken it upon myself to pray. I just always thought that it was a bit pointless to confess to someone who isn't God himself.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

No I haven't.

I went to a Catholic school during high school and they tried to make us all confess in year 9. It was the start of 'converting' us and making us do things the 'right' way etc.

I somehow managed to get missed during that particular lesson and they thought I'd already been in to confess.

They told us we were to come back once a week on our own to do it from then on but of course hardly anyone went back.

I don't believe in telling some guy that thinks he's God everything. They're not anyone special. If I want to confess I'll go home and tell God myself what I need to tell him.

 

[Dionysos]

I haven't, but I can see what compels people to do it.

Not everyone can be of the mindset that talking to themselves is enough. Some people hate themselves and are haunted by things that they have done, with varying degrees of extremity. For them speaking to someone else / through them to the lord is a way of getting these feelings off of your chest and mind, and walking out knowing that the lord has listened and understands that what you have done has been troubling you and thus you want forgiveness and are not a bad person.

I think it needs a religious person first to understand it. It is almost a ritual to purify the person, or cleanse their thoughts, but it has noticeable possitve results. The person can leave the confession chamber, though probably still troubled, knowing that he /she has been honest to God and not trying to hide in shame. Leaving after this could potentially be a new chapter in the persons life, leaving things behind and trying to continue their lives with a more possitive mindset.

It's true that talking to people about what is on your mind can be a healthy excercise, religious or not. If something is on your mind and all you do it loop it round and eat yourself up from the inside out then it can be really damaging.. Sometimes people like to know someone has heard them and understands what they are thinking, even if they can offer no other help, so that they no longer feel like they are alone and that people will judge them badly... If the person you are ultimately confessing to is God, via others, then to religious people this must be one hell of a boost and must put their mind at ease quite a bit.



As for the person confessing to... I believe you'd probably have to trust the priest a lot in order to tell something very serious. For little trivial issues that are plaguing you that might be shocking in relgious communities, but not against the law then perhaps confession is ok to iron those out...

If you're confessing that (extreme scenario) you murdered 3 children and raped their mother and staged it to look like the father did it who then hanged himself in the pressure and stress of it all, then confession probably isn't a good idea, unless you want to hand yourself in as you can't take it anymore and want to put yourself forward to God first and explain how sorry you are and hope he takes pity.

 

[Donald Trump]

As for the person confessing to... I believe you'd probably have to trust the priest a lot in order to tell something very serious. For little trivial issues that are plaguing you that might be shocking in relgious communities, but not against the law then perhaps confession is ok to iron those out...

If you're confessing that (extreme scenario) you murdered 3 children and raped their mother and staged it to look like the father did it who then hanged himself in the pressure and stress of it all, then confession probably isn't a good idea, unless you want to hand yourself in as you can't take it anymore and want to put yourself forward to God first and explain how sorry you are and hope he takes pity.

Have you not seen Cracker? With Robbie Coltrane?
Priests cannot repeat what is told to them in confession, even if it's a matter of life or death. This applies to anyone, however only Catholics can receive absolution for their sins, or so I'm led to believe.
Also how would a priest be able to use any information against you? If you don't donate I'll tell everyone you have sex with children etc etc. That kind of situation will never occur.

As a nominal member of the one true faith, ie Protestantism, we don't have confessions so I've never confessed. Though the idea of honestly confessing holds some appeal to me, it's not something I'd ever bother to do.

 

[SapphireStar]

When I was in primary school we had to. What does a 7 year old confess to for the love of Mike?? I didnt do my homework, I fed my dinner to my dog, etc. What were we suppose to say?? I confessed I took a Lion King badge from my cousins house and I would return it. I was 8 years old for God sake. I shouldnt have to confess at that age. And I havent confessed since.

 

[Ayumi Hamasaki]

Have you not seen Cracker? With Robbie Coltrane?
Priests cannot repeat what is told to them in confession, even if it's a matter of life or death. This applies to anyone, however only Catholics can receive absolution for their sins, or so I'm led to believe.
Also how would a priest be able to use any information against you? If you don't donate I'll tell everyone you have sex with children etc etc. That kind of situation will never occur.

As a nominal member of the one true faith, ie Protestantism, we don't have confessions so I've never confessed. Though the idea of honestly confessing holds some appeal to me, it's not something I'd ever bother to do.

Yes, it's true that they are not supposed to repeat what they are told, and in perfect world they wouldn't, but you also can't forget that they are not forced not to. I mean, religous officials touch children and there not supposed to, so it's not a long shot to assume that some would do this with much more ease.

Assuming that a priest did decide to use it against it, that priest would more than likely use it to do something big. If a priest is willing to blackmail, what else are they willing to do? Almost anything, I would say. You seem to be looking at a rather innocent view on the subject.

 

[Ohri-Jin]

Why would you ever confess to an other human...confessing is mere therapy but it doesnt change the fact you committed a sin anyways.. pointless I tell you, only God can judge, wether God is a entity/energy or a person which some people think..

 

[Donald Trump]

Yes, it's true that they are not supposed to repeat what they are told, and in perfect world they wouldn't, but you also can't forget that they are not forced not to. I mean, religous officials touch children and there not supposed to, so it's not a long shot to assume that some would do this with much more ease.

Assuming that a priest did decide to use it against it, that priest would more than likely use it to do something big. If a priest is willing to blackmail, what else are they willing to do? Almost anything, I would say. You seem to be looking at a rather innocent view on the subject.

On the contrary I find your views to be naive. Do you assume that Priests are the only section of society that abuse their power? Or perhaps doctor patient abuse doesn't make the tabloids.
Regardless, there is a difference between child molestation, which god will forgive a priest for, and allow them into heaven, and breaking confession which will cause them to suffer eternal torment in hell. Or am I naive for assuming Priests are religious?
They aren't even the same sort of crimes anyway, one is a physical one, the other spiritual. Furthermore as confession is done in a booth it's unlikely that the priest will know who you are. And even if the priest was inclined to blackmail you, they'd lack the ability to do so. It will be at assured destruction for the priest and there would be no evidence. The idea that a priest would be able to use the information against anyone is ludicrous.

 

[Ayumi Hamasaki]

On the contrary I find your views to be naive. Do you assume that Priests are the only section of society that abuse their power? Or perhaps doctor patient abuse doesn't make the tabloids.
Regardless, there is a difference between child molestation, which god will forgive a priest for, and allow them into heaven, and breaking confession which will cause them to suffer eternal torment in hell. Or am I naive for assuming Priests are religious?
They aren't even the same sort of crimes anyway, one is a physical one, the other spiritual. Furthermore as confession is done in a booth it's unlikely that the priest will know who you are. And even if the priest was inclined to blackmail you, they'd lack the ability to do so. It will be at assured destruction for the priest and there would be no evidence. The idea that a priest would be able to use the information against anyone is ludicrous.

No where did I state that they are the only group that abuses their power. No where. Everyone, even priests, are capable of doing anything. Just because someone is defined as religous on the outside doesn't make them so on the inside. I only meant to show that priests are capable, as are you and me, of doing horrible things. They are human.

You can tell most people apart from their voice. Unless you confess at a church you do not intend, it is likely that your priest could figure out who you are.

As for the topics of forgivness, I'd best say nothing. But I have to say something if it is a bit vauge. I can not believe that God would forgive one of those, as it is much larger than the other.

I have nothing against priest, I only meant to say that mankind itself is likely to do it, and a priest is part of mankind. We leave in a bad world, it's true.