Hi
I am looking for:
Book recommendations Subject Absolution
From different theological perspectives.
Are there any classic works on the subject that must be read?
Thanks
P A
Given the variety of contexts in which it appears I doubt that there is such a work. The views should be ACELO churches (Anglican- Catholic - Eastern Orthodox - Lutheran - Oriental Orthodox) plus Methodists. The contexts should be Divine Liturgy/Primary Sunday Service/Mass, Penance Service, Private Confession/Sacrament of Reconciliation. So books on liturgical theology, penance and (minor) sacraments should all have relevant sections. I would suggest that you start with the external references from the wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confession_%28religion%29 to hone the question to the point that we might be able to offer suggestions. However, there are two books of liturgical theology that are classics everyone should know:
Orthodox Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together has a well known section on this topic... I have heard great things about Harold Senkbeil's Dying to Live: The Power of Forgiveness, but have yet to read it...
Since Confessional practice was the very battleground of the Lutheran Reformation, our doctrinal standards have many references... Augsburg Confession 11-12 (briefly), and 25 and of course the defense of this in the Apology... But really the classic Lutheran treatment is from later editions of the Small Catechism - How simple people are to confess. Luther also ends his Large Catechism with a plea and explanation of Confession and Forgiveness.
The Gospel is not ... a "new law," on the contrary, ... a "new life." - William Julius Mann