As a Catholic I believe in the sacrament of penance, but I would like to hear what non-Catholics, even atheists, think about this. For people that don't know what penance is.
In Catholic teaching, the Sacrament of Penance is the method of the Church by which individual men and women may confess sins committed after baptism and have them absolved by a priest.
Yeah stole that straight from Wikipedia. I'm a sinner time for confession
The origins of this sacrament have a fairly clear and accessible history. I'm certainly no historical theologian, but I would assume it has something to do with establishing a strong hierarchy to the Church. I tried Catholicism for a few years - I was fascinated by the ceremony. And if you accept the basic tenets of the Church, I think something like confession/penance makes sense. After all, it's the priests who spend their days studying and meditating on God's word and, even though our society is mostly literate now, priests still know far more about the Bible than do regular laypeople. The Church catches a lot of flak in ceremonies like this from arguments that try to show the Catholic Church holds itself above (or at least equal to) to God's word. That you don't need a priest to interpret the Bible. My view is that, even though I consider the Bible to be a bunch of silly stories, what better person to go to than a priest to interpret and help one live by these stories? Ultimately, I'd say the penance done by Catholics is far greater than those who sin and ask for forgiveness in other denominations. But even when I was a Catholic, I didn't see the Church so much absolving my sin and I saw them recognizing that, in all likelihood, God has forgiven my sins. It's the same with canonizing people. The Church doesn't know for sure whether so and so is in heaven and has the hook-up with God. They just figure that if anyone does, then this person does. Maybe I'm not viewing the process correctly, though. If the Church does, in fact, claim their proclamations to be even in the same ballpark as God's, then that's pretty problematic.
Maybe I'm not viewing the process correctly, though. If the Church does, in fact, claim their proclamations to be even in the same ballpark as God's, then that's pretty problematic.
Actually that's basically what the Church proclaims. The basis for penance, canonization, and other such Catholic ceremonies is based on their interpretation of scripture. Based on that interpretation they believe that if you do 'A' then God will do 'B'.
IAmAce - so every single thing that the Bible says is true?
Why don't you go handle a snake or two and drink some poison?
Mark 16:17-18 (New International Version - UK)
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
I'm not an expert but I'm pretty sure that's not how your supposed to do it, use your head a bit .
Actually that's basically what the Church proclaims. The basis for penance, canonization, and other such Catholic ceremonies is based on their interpretation of scripture. Based on that interpretation they believe that if you do 'A' then God will do 'B'.
