Confession (religion)
Confession, in many religions, is the acknowledgment of sinful thoughts and actions. This may occur directly to a deity or to fellow people.
For the evangelical Protestant movement, see Confessing Movement. For statements of faith, see creed. For other uses, see Confess (disambiguation) and Confession (disambiguation).It is often seen as a required action of repentance and a necessary precursor to penance and atonement. It often leads to reconciliation and forgiveness.
Alcoholics Anonymous[edit]
In the AA Twelve-Step Program, confession is made in Step 5: "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."[60]
"If we decline to follow through with this step, our un-confessed sins will haunt us, resulting in the demise of our body and spirit. We will have to continue paying the penalty of our wrongdoings."[61]
"By completing the Fifth Step, we gain God's forgiveness, supervision, and strength. We obtain complete forgiveness..."[61]
Buddhism[edit]
Buddhism has been from its inception primarily a tradition of renunciation and monasticism. Within the monastic framework (called the Vinaya) of the sangha regular confession of wrongdoing to other monks is mandatory.[62] In the suttas of the Pali Canon Bhikkhus sometimes even confessed their wrongdoing to the Buddha himself.[63] That part of the Pali Canon called the Vinaya requires that monks confess their individual sins before the bi-weekly convening for the recitation of the Patimokkha.