고해성사와 종교개혁 = The Confession and The Reformation

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper illuminates the change to the confession system and its significance. Sacramental confession was important to medieval religious life. It included such things as discipline and pastoral care. Moreover one of the functions of sacramental confession was social control. The confession system changed both formally and functionally through the Reformation and the Catholic Reformation. The main purpose of this paper will be to explore a close connection between change of confession syatem and ecclesiastical authority.
The Reformation began to criticize confession. Luther criticised priest's right of absolution, To do so, he suggested ‘priesthood of all believer's'. Next, Luther criticised the idea of satisfaction, He insisted that redemption was not by human works but by faith. that is to say, justification by faith. Protestants after Luther layed great emphasis on repentance. Therefore human have the faith as a result of the priest's action but by himself.
Tridentine Roman Catholicism responded to the Protestant idea. Confession was reaffirmed. After the Council Trent confession was carried out in the room of confession frequently and privately. What does that mean? Firstly, the medium of confession weakened community spirit and accelerated individualism. In Protestantism elimination of confession also damaged the possibility of reconciliation. Secondly, whether Protestantism or Catholicism, authority was established. As a result of the Reformation, the unity of christendom was broken. But both Protestantism or Catholicism substantially could dominate over the people in the religious world. Outside of that world and people became separated from authority and surely were proceeding towards an ideology that was later to turn into individualism.
In the present times of uncertainty and loneliness, confession and reconciliation is arguably much needed.