Freethought & Rationalism Archive

diana · 11-14-2002, 01:55 PM

I remember when I was attending Hebrew school and Sunday school that the focus was on what Mitzvot (good deeds) that we had done that week, and not on the bad things we had done for which we needed to confess.

I never thought about this tiny detail, but what a world of difference this makes. Christians are required to confess their sins and are expected to do good deeds but pointedly not take credit for them (because then your reason for doing them is brought into question--so if you do something nice and you do tell someone, you are expected to express some shame to neutralize the prideful act of bragging about it).

But Shadowy Man says they had a ritual of telling what good deeds they'd done. I think this is a terrific idea. Not only do you get the self-esteem boost of doing something good and knowing it (and being able to acknowledge it), but the fact that you'll be talking about your "good deeds" on a regular basis actually motivates you to do more of them.

Christians, on the other hand, are only motivated (by their opposite practice) to avoid sinning (or avoid getting caught

).

If all that made any sense.

d

Amie · 11-14-2002, 02:29 PM

Having been raised Catholic I recall my first confession being in the second grade. As I grew older I went less and less not because I think it is pointless because I think if it helps people feel better to confess their sins to another person so be it. However I do not feel that I have to go to another human being to be absolved.

Biff the unclean · 11-14-2002, 02:39 PM

Being raised Catholic we started confessing to a Priest at such a young age that I hadn't committed any sins yet. So I had to make some up, which I realized was a sin in itself, so then I had to confess my confession.

Sigh.

Grizzly · 11-14-2002, 03:40 PM

Definitely before your first communion (second grade or approximately 8 years old). You had to wash those nasty sins off of you before you could take the transubstantiated host into your body. Some people used to go to confession every week (before mass).

I remember when they went from the "confessional" to the face-to-face confessions

Those were a little weird.

DigitalDruid · 11-14-2002, 06:40 PM

Never being to a confession, I am curious - what do you confess as a second grader? That you ate too much icecream?

Do the priests or pastors provide guidelines as to what's "worthy" of confessing? What are those, typically?

Sephiroth · 11-14-2002, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DigitalDruid:
<strong>Never being to a confession, I am curious - what do you confess as a second grader? That you ate too much icecream?

Do the priests or pastors provide guidelines as to what's "worthy" of confessing? What are those, typically?</strong>

Lying and arguing with parents usually. Think of confession as the time spent apologizing to a guy in a funny outfit for being human

.

Amie · 11-14-2002, 11:24 PM

When I was little I recall confessing that I threw an apple as hard as I could at one of my brothers because he tried to vacuum up my cat. The priest told me not to throw apples and to say some our fathers...

sakrilege · 11-15-2002, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Biff the unclean:
<strong>Being raised Catholic we started confessing to a Priest at such a young age that I hadn't committed any sins yet. So I had to make some up, which I realized was a sin in itself, so then I had to confess my confession.
</strong>

Sounds like you committed an original sin.

BigJim · 11-15-2002, 06:35 AM

Oh Amos, are you out there?

southernhybrid · 11-15-2002, 08:39 AM

I had many little Catholic friends when I was growing up and they had their first experience with confession around the age of six or seven. I know because we always compared notes.

As a fundy Baptist, we were constantly asking Jebus to forgive us our sins. We had a direct connection to god while the Catholics had to go through the priest.

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11-14-2002, 01:55 PM	#11
diana Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 6,471	I remember when I was attending Hebrew school and Sunday school that the focus was on what Mitzvot (good deeds) that we had done that week, and not on the bad things we had done for which we needed to confess. I never thought about this tiny detail, but what a world of difference this makes. Christians are required to confess their sins and are expected to do good deeds but pointedly not take credit for them (because then your reason for doing them is brought into question--so if you do something nice and you do tell someone, you are expected to express some shame to neutralize the prideful act of bragging about it). But Shadowy Man says they had a ritual of telling what good deeds they'd done. I think this is a terrific idea. Not only do you get the self-esteem boost of doing something good and knowing it (and being able to acknowledge it), but the fact that you'll be talking about your "good deeds" on a regular basis actually motivates you to do more of them. Christians, on the other hand, are only motivated (by their opposite practice) to avoid sinning (or avoid getting caught ). If all that made any sense. d

11-14-2002, 02:29 PM	#12
Amie Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York Posts: 1,626	Having been raised Catholic I recall my first confession being in the second grade. As I grew older I went less and less not because I think it is pointless because I think if it helps people feel better to confess their sins to another person so be it. However I do not feel that I have to go to another human being to be absolved.

11-14-2002, 02:39 PM	#13
Biff the unclean Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: an inaccessible island fortress Posts: 10,638	Being raised Catholic we started confessing to a Priest at such a young age that I hadn't committed any sins yet. So I had to make some up, which I realized was a sin in itself, so then I had to confess my confession. Sigh.

11-14-2002, 03:40 PM	#14
Grizzly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 2,936	Definitely before your first communion (second grade or approximately 8 years old). You had to wash those nasty sins off of you before you could take the transubstantiated host into your body. Some people used to go to confession every week (before mass). I remember when they went from the "confessional" to the face-to-face confessions Those were a little weird.

11-14-2002, 06:40 PM	#15
DigitalDruid Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 712	Never being to a confession, I am curious - what do you confess as a second grader? That you ate too much icecream? Do the priests or pastors provide guidelines as to what's "worthy" of confessing? What are those, typically?

11-14-2002, 11:24 PM	#17
Amie Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York Posts: 1,626	When I was little I recall confessing that I threw an apple as hard as I could at one of my brothers because he tried to vacuum up my cat. The priest told me not to throw apples and to say some our fathers...

11-15-2002, 06:35 AM	#19
BigJim Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Stepford, CT Posts: 4,296	Oh Amos, are you out there?

11-15-2002, 08:39 AM	#20
southernhybrid Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: heavenly Georgia Posts: 3,862	I had many little Catholic friends when I was growing up and they had their first experience with confession around the age of six or seven. I know because we always compared notes. As a fundy Baptist, we were constantly asking Jebus to forgive us our sins. We had a direct connection to god while the Catholics had to go through the priest.

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