On this day, the day of atonement, Jews around the world are to face their misdeeds and sins over the year through worship and prayer so that they may atone for their wrongdoings. With fear and wonder in facing God’s judgment, Jews seek forgiveness. In doing so, people are called to self-reflect on their failings and flaws. Synagogues hold religious services throughout the day for practicing Jews to come pray introspectively, either asking for forgiveness or expressing regret of sins committed in the past year. Once you atone, it’s thought to be starting the Jewish new year with a “clean slate,” absolved of past transgressions.
Christians ask for forgiveness more often than once a year and in different ways, there are general and personal confessions. I don’t know about the Muslim or what are the predominantly Oriental faiths, but I suspect they too have some form of atonement incorporated into their worships.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a world wide day of atonement, where we all recognized our failings and sins, sought forgiveness from the higher power we believed in, and started over with a clean slate. Just a thought.
I would need two days minimum!
D
At least two.