(August 15, 2017 at 7:27 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: Apologies if this has already been addressed.
I don't get the whole thing of confession from the word go. If god is what the catholics say it is and they sin, shouldn't god know it anyway? What the hell do they need to tell a priest for. Can't god direct them in their own penance, act of contrition or absolution? What, only priests can know the mind of god? Sounds like a psychological manipulation tool used by the church. Keep the parishioners dependent and get the money.
And why does the box make it special? If they confess in the box and then repeat themselves outside the box to the priest, what they say is no longer considered confidential? What the hell is the difference?
Yes, God can do all those things without us going to confession. If we feel remorse for something we have done, God forgives even without us having to say/do anything.
Going to confession is simply a way to make the experience of forgiveness a more physical, human thing. Especially if you did something you feel very bad about, unloading to a priest and having him pray over you can feel extremely relieving, and just makes the whole thing feel more official and more real.
FYI, and we don't pay to go to confession lol.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
-walsh
