Book recommendations Subject Absolution

P A

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

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MJ. Smith

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:

The Shape of the Liturgy by Gregory Dix (in Logos) - Anglican
Introduction to Liturgical Theology by Alexander Schmemann (on Amazon) - Russian Orthodox

Ken McGuire

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.