2006-06-13 10:42:07 · 15 answers · asked by sluggo1947 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This answer assumes the question was in relation to the Christain religion.
The act of confession is represents the acknowledgement that the sin is not a private act. By bringing it out into the open, it acts as a form of admission that the sin has public consequences. A private prayer ignores the fact that all actions, no matter how private we think they are, have public consequences.
2006-06-13 10:52:11 · answer #1 · answered by Joe J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the Bible is not enough for some people. If we look at just the Bible then we will see no basis for the mandatory confession of sin to a "priest." Confession of sin to a "priest" is something that has been added as a tradition, and the concept is not found in the Bible.
I don't claim to know everything, so there is always a chance that I am missing something. But if we all use just the Bible as our guide, then we can (and will) believe the same thnig and we'll all be right.
2006-06-13 17:51:06 · answer #2 · answered by Matt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im not Catholic so I probably am not the best resource but mostly I see it as a way for people to get it off their chests and allows them to believe the priests can speak directly to god and know that they mean it. I also, not being Christian even, think back to the Middle Ages when the Roman Catholic Church pretty much ruled the world, what with thier power to excomunicate countries and kill at will. So this could have been seen as a sort of blackmail, and if you didn't give the church your sins you would burn in hell, and since people believed it they told the priests and then the Church had power over the higher ups... Thats just speculation, if anyone wants to add to this or flame it even, alright.
2006-06-13 17:48:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Jesus told the Apostles: "To who you forgive the sins, they will be forgiven." Remember that God is the one who grants forgiveness by means of the priest. Besides, sometimes the penitent should make some restitution or something like that and it is the priest who should say what. Remember also that the penitent should promise to strive not to commit the sins anymore and the priest can help him with that and give advice if necessary
2006-06-13 17:55:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
John Wycliffe of England was one of the first men to say during his time that you did not have to go to a priest to confess your sins. At that time, the Catholic church was corrupt. They used to tell people that if they gave specific, costly, offerings that they could buy themselved a spot in heaven. The Catholic church kept people from truly knowing what the scriptures said in order to control them. If you know what the bible says for yourself and you really, really, really, have a relationship with God, you can confess your sins just between you and God. I John 1:9.
2006-06-13 17:54:20 · answer #5 · answered by super saiyan 3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. Instant feedback would be the answer I think. God does not answer directly, the priest does.
Whether the priest can really pass that confession along is any body's guess. My guess is "NO"
2006-06-13 17:47:28 · answer #6 · answered by diogenese19348 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We Catholics do pray to God for forgiveness, then after that we go to the priest to be reconciled back to the Church in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The priesthood and this sacrament were instituted by Jesus (God in the flesh).
2006-06-14 00:57:51 · answer #7 · answered by Life 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is one of the man-made "rules" imposed in the Catholic church.
That's just one of the problems that I have with Catholicism. (I was raised Catholic but I don't follow that religion anymore)
If you read and believe in the bible, no where in there does it say you must confess your sin to another man in order to be forgiven. It says you must confess your sin to your Father, GOD.
2006-06-13 17:48:16 · answer #8 · answered by Aye Davanita 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people have been raised in religion and not relationship. Religion is man's way to try and have a relationship with God (or reach God). God gave us Jesus Christ so he could have a relationship with us (and we can reach him).
In Christianity, you only need to pray to God, through Jesus Christ, he is our intercessor.
The Holy Bible says...
Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.
(NIV) Hebrews 4:16:
16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Grace to you and God Bless...
2006-06-13 18:19:39 · answer #9 · answered by Salvation is a gift, Eph 2:8-9 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is because the catholic religion says that is the way it should be, so that a priest may have something against you, so that they can use it as blackmale to have you help the church in the way that they see fit.
2006-06-13 17:47:11 · answer #10 · answered by bigsoljainga 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋