Admitting You're a Sinner

[RoadRunner79]

What's up with this?

It's the first step in the ABCs of becoming a Christian (Admit, Believe, Confess) but I always saw it as a rather unhealthy way to reflect upon one's misdeeds. Personally, I think something like "I made a mistake" or "That was terrible of me to do" is a much more beneficial as it is directed toward the action itself. It doesn't make the assumption: I did a bad thing, therefore I'm a bad person. 

What does it really even mean? 

Admit that I'm capable of moral transgressions? Sure, I'll admit that. But that doesn't mean I am anything, does it? 

Does it mean admit that I've commited moral transgressions in the past? I'll admit that too. And while you're at it, I'll probably fail in my moral responsibilities in the future too. I admit it.


Theists: Have I admitted in this post that I'm a sinner? Or is there more to it than that? If so, what's the difference?

Atheists: What do you make of all this "admit you're a sinner" stuff? What do you think motivates it? Is it a good, bad, or ugly way to reflect on moral transgressions?

I don't see where there is an issue, with admitting the truth. However I do see where you may be wary of this being done in a harmful way.

I would agree a lot with Steve's description, it's just a part of the process.

However I'm interested, in your statement that you think it is harmful. I don't understand why. Would you see my doctor telling me, that I'm fat and need to lose weight as being harmful? What if I also acknowledge that I am short and funny looking? As I said, I think there is a wrong way to go about this, but it's not necessarily wrong. It seems that one of the first steps for AA is to admit that you are an alcoholic and that you need help. I think that the purpose is more akin to this, or my doctor telling me I'm fat, rather than bullying, or shaming. Or at least it should be.