Religion Confessions Essays - Confession, Sacrament Of Penance

Religion: Confessions con?fes?sion Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. This simple phrase from Roman Catholic dogma conjures up images of famous Hollywood confessions and dramatizations, but the real root of the phrase has a much more obscure past. Not only found in modern Catholicism, the confession of sin, along with the confession of faith, can be seen in religious practices throughout the world. The simplest definition Webster gave the confession of sin is a written or oral statement acknowledging guilt, made by one who has been accused or charged with an offense (Bookshelf). However, Webster also recognizes the less thought of definition of the confession of faith as an avowal of belief in the doctrines of a particular faith; a creed (Bookshelf). The double-edged meaning of the word can be partially explained by the etymology (Eliade 1). The word confession derives from the Latin word confiteor which means to confess a sin or fault, but in a more general since the word can also mean to acknowledge or avow. Thus, with the understanding of the Latin root, one may speak of the sinner who confesses his sin, or of the martyr who confesses his faith. Regardless of which usage is being applied, the religious rules of the confession must be followed. It must take place in front of a recipient, or one who hears the confession. In many cases, it is preformed in the interest not only of the one confessing but also of the community to which both the confessing person and the recipient belong (Eliade 1). With an understanding of the underlying meanings of the confession one may begin to explore the development of the phenomenon and its function in modern religion. A common way to view the confession of sin is as one part of the entire sacrament of penance. The confession along with the elements of prayer, sacrifice, and penance lead up to the act of absolution or forgiveness ( Gentz 280). In early Christian religion the confession began as a ritualized group avowal of sin as part of Sunday worship; moreover, in Judaism it developed into the annual congregational confession of sins known as Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (Gentz 290). Both examples of early confession resemble todays modern idea of publicly professing ones faith and acknowledging ones sins before a recipient, in this case being the congregation as a whole, but it wasnt until later in Eastern and Western Christianity that the individual confession emerged. The exact origin of the confession is unknown, but there are many theories surrounding the development of this institution. One approach conceived by Raffaele Pettazzoni states that the confession originated from forms of magic, specifically the magic of the spoken word. A ritual intended to expel or eliminate a sin by means of its verbal expression, it was conceived of as a kind of substance that was charged with destructive or obstructive power (Elaide 2). This theory, however, elicited scholarly objections from the Viennese cultural-historical school, which maintained that Pettazzonis unilinar reconstruction of historycould in fact mean a return to a farfetched evolutionism Elaide 2). The modern definition of confession began in first century Christianity as the church practice a penance for sins that were considered to be mortal or capital sins. The act began as the sinner entered the order of the penitents through a confession rendered before the bishop (Elaide 4). Gradually the form of private confession was introduced, and from the seventh century onward a new form of reconciliation came into practice. In Western Christianity the private form of confession emphasized the accusation made by the penitent, while in Eastern Christianity the spiritual personality of the priest was stressed (Elaide 4). Also during this time period the seal of confession began to emerge. This seal binds the priest who hears the confession not to divulge the secrets of the confessional to anyone other than God (Bookshelf). Finally, the confession as we know it today has played an important part in religious customs throughout history. Although much of the origin of the confession is unknown, humanity can still appreciate the evolution of this institution. Millions of religious people hold it as a sacred, and throughout time philosophers and theologians have attested

Topics For Observation Essay

Topics For Observation EssayThere are many topics for observation essay, but here are some that you should familiarize yourself with. The topics can help you achieve the best possible grades in your opinion.One is to offer your own perspective about a topic. We know that people have a tendency to self-stereotype and the more that they do so, the more that they are likely to avoid thinking about other points of view, in general. Thus, it is very important to write from your own point of view.A second topic for observation essay is to suggest alternative ways to solve the problem or issues. This is something that many teachers or professors would rather see you doing. There are various ways to go about this. It's a good idea to put together a couple of ideas of your own in order to demonstrate how you think the whole issue should be handled.The third topic for observation essay is to ask yourself how your answer to the question would be based on whether or not you have included the rel evant information. For example, if your answer is 'yes' based on your initial assumption, then you need to make sure that the next time you do an assignment with the same problem, you include the necessary information to support your conclusion. Sometimes the wrong answer is just as valid as the right one, when the information is there. If not, it may be time to ask yourself if you can come up with another solution.The fourth topic for observation essay is to help you think about your main point. We often forget that we're often reading about an event from someone else's point of view. If you learn to be aware of the way that the speaker's memory works, you will be better able to appreciate the thoughts of others.The fifth topic for observation essay is to look at what you consider as a flaw in the subject. Of course, this can be quite subjective. While it is difficult to even know if a given flaw is valid or not, you will have to decide based on a few examples. But in general, the faults that are considered 'superficial' or minor will probably be less serious than those that involve errors. Those that involve errors or insignificant flaws can have more serious implications, so you should consider them carefully.The sixth topic for observation essay is to consider the research done on the topic or the situation. If there is a source that backs up the writer's conclusions, you will have a very strong argument. Otherwise, you can study up on the subject and write about your experience. However, it's a good idea to be cautious about committing logical errors here. You may lose points with the judge over the mistake.So the seventh topic for observation essay is to think about the important things to consider before deciding on the right answer. That way, you can bring all the different perspectives together and come up with a strong argument that helps you achieve your goals.