Forgive us Father, We'd rather go online

[Swilson]

Already a repository for too much information from bloggers divulging their every intimate thought, the Web recently extended its reach into territory the church once dominated.

Tens of thousands of the guilty among us are visiting confessional booths at ivescrewedup.com, mysecret.tv and dailyconfessions.com and unburdening themselves anonymously.

As priests report a steady decline in sinners showing up to confess in person, according to a Georgetown University study, and parishes across America staff makeshift confessionals in malls with rotating priests, the guilty are repenting online.

On camfess.com, a woman admitted, "I don't think my boyfriend is cute." If God is checking his e-mail, He might see the "ask for forgiveness" form you completed on forgivenet.com.

Absolution is also available on YouTube, where videos of members of XXX Church, a team of pastors based in Michigan, discuss their unholy addiction to porn. :doh

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/03/13/online.confessions/index.html

[yeshua'sbride]

"What these sites say to me is what are we are increasingly missing in our lives: a sense of community and real, tangible connection with other people," Turkle said.

Well if that's what they think they're missing in their lives, that's their biggest problem right there.:doh


"Just because confessions don't go directly to God through a priest or a church doesn't mean they aren't sincere," he said.

How can you go directly to God through someone else? :scratch

[CitySearcher]

It is saddening to think that so many don't have enough faith to realize that God can be approached directly from where-ever we are.

Why do so many put faith in man? We are all the same; we have no power to absolve, forgive or condemn. What makes a person think another human has these powers?

Whether in person or on-line; all such confessions are mere cries of loneliness and guilt ridden behaviors. God has unlimited band-width, unending mercy and desires all to seek Him out. Only He can deal with our confessions.

[Country_Hermit]

I tried one of those online confession things once. Made me feel more lonely than ever. I didn't feel forgiven either....just dirty.

But it did lead me (eventually) to question the whole concept of forgiveness and learn about it. One very important message came through loud and clear: To not accept God's forgiveness (ie...continually dwell on the sin committed, beat yourself up over your act of sin that you feel guilty about) is a sin in itself. Once that got through me head...I felt much much better. Hope that makes sense.

It is sad to see that so many people are using the online confession things. Confession is no joke and shouldn't be taken so lightly.

[ChristiRenee]

:puke

This is just disgusting! It's confessions for entertainment! I am NOT going to those sites but I bet there are ads on them and I bet the people who developed them are making money.

:puke

[icebear]

definitely one of the stranger things i have heard of....

[Janae]

:doh

[harvest]

They're trying to make it easier so you can get drunk and party all weekend, and then send off a quick confession on your lunch break at work.
Next up is the text message confession. :ohno