Atonement vs. Penance — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 28, 2024
Atonement involves making amends for wrongdoing, often seen as a moral or spiritual process; penance, on the other hand, is a specific act of repentance imposed by religious authority.
Difference Between Atonement and Penance
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Atonement is generally understood as the process of making amends for a mistake or a sin, aiming to repair the damage done. This concept is often associated with moral and spiritual healing. Whereas, penance is specifically an act of self-punishment or undertaking assigned by a religious authority to express repentance for one's sins.
Atonement can be a personal, internal process that does not necessarily involve prescribed actions or rituals. It focuses on rectifying the harm caused by one’s actions and restoring relationships. On the other hand, penance typically involves performing specific tasks or rituals, such as prayers, fasting, or charity, as directed by a religious leader.
In many religious traditions, atonement is seen as a way to reconcile with God or the divine, a broad and encompassing act that may include various forms of repentance, restitution, and forgiveness. Penance, however, is often a component of atonement, representing concrete steps towards repentance.
Atonement may occur over a long period, as it involves a deep, often emotional process of understanding and resolving the impacts of one’s actions. Conversely, penance is usually a more immediate and action-oriented practice, meant to demonstrate sincerity and the desire to make amends.
While atonement seeks to address both the consequences of the action and the underlying intentions, penance focuses more narrowly on the act of demonstrating remorse and commitment to change through visible actions.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Process of making amends for a wrongdoing.
Acts of repentance imposed by religious authority.
Focus
Moral and spiritual repair.
Demonstration of repentance.
Actions Involved
May be personal and internal.
Specific, prescribed actions like prayers.
Duration
Can be long-term.
Typically short-term and task-specific.
Relationship
Broader concept of reconciliation.
Often a part of atonement as a concrete action.
Compare with Definitions
Atonement
Making amends for an offense or a fault.
Seeking atonement, she volunteered at the shelter to make up for her past indifference.
Penance
Acts or rituals performed to express sorrow for wrongdoing.
As penance, she fasted for three days.
Atonement
Making up for errors or shortcomings.
She made atonement for her lapse in judgment by apologizing and rectifying the issue.
Penance
Often involves fasting, prayers, or charity work.
He chose to do community service as his penance.
Atonement
The act of repairing the damage caused by one’s actions.
He viewed his community service as atonement for his earlier misconduct.
Penance
A religious practice involving punishment to show repentance for sins.
The priest assigned him penance to recite daily prayers.
Atonement
A process of reconciliation and forgiveness in a moral or spiritual context.
The festival is observed as a day of atonement and reflection.
Penance
Specific and directed by church doctrine.
According to church doctrine, penance is required before receiving forgiveness.
Atonement
Often involves personal reflection and restitution.
His journey of atonement brought him to seek forgiveness from those he had wronged.
Penance
Task given by a religious authority as a sign of repentance.
Her penance included making a pilgrimage to the holy site.
Atonement
Atonement (also atoning, to atone) is the concept of a person taking action to correct previous wrongdoing on their part, either through direct action to undo the consequences of that act, equivalent action to do good for others, or some other expression of feelings of remorse. From the Middle English attone or atoon ("agreed", literally "at one"), now meaning to be "at one", in harmony, with someone.
Penance
Penance is any act or a set of actions done out of repentance for sins committed, as well as an alternate name for the Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession. It also plays a part in confession among Anglicans and Methodists, in which it is a rite, as well as among other Protestants.
Atonement
Amends or reparation made for an injury or wrong; expiation.
Penance
Punishment inflicted on oneself as an outward expression of repentance for wrongdoing
He had done public penance for those hasty words
Atonement
(Judaism) An individual's reconciliation with God by means of repentance and confession of one's transgressions.
Penance
A sacrament in which a member of the Church confesses sins to a priest and is given absolution.
Atonement
Atonement(Christianity) The reconciliation of God and humans brought about by the redemptive life and death of Jesus.
Penance
Impose a penance on
The Bishop penanced him severely for his conduct
Atonement
(Obsolete) Reconciliation; concord.
Penance
An act of self-mortification or devotion performed voluntarily to show sorrow for a sin or other wrongdoing.
Atonement
Making amends to restore a damaged relationship; expiation.
Penance
Penance A sacrament in some Christian churches that includes contrition, confession to a priest, acceptance of punishment, and absolution. Also called reconciliation.
Atonement
The reconciliation of God and mankind through the death of Jesus.
Penance
To impose penance upon.
Atonement
(archaic) Reconciliation; restoration of friendly relations; concord.
Penance
A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
Atonement
Reconciliation; restoration of friendly relations; agreement; concord.
By whom we have now received the atonement.
He desires to make atonementBetwixt the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers.
Penance
A sacrament in some Christian churches.
Atonement
Satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an injury, or by doing of suffering that which will be received in satisfaction for an offense or injury; expiation; amends; - with for. Specifically, in theology: The expiation of sin made by the obedience, personal suffering, and death of Christ.
When a man has been guilty of any vice, the best atonement be can make for it is, to warn others.
The Phocians behaved with, so much gallantry, that they were thought to have made a sufficient atonement for their former offense.
Penance
Any instrument of self-punishment.
Atonement
Compensation for a wrong;
We were unable to get satisfaction from the local store
Penance
(obsolete) repentance
Atonement
The act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing (especially appeasing a deity)
Penance
(obsolete) pain; sorrow; suffering
Penance
To impose penance; to punish.
Penance
Repentance.
Penance
Pain; sorrow; suffering.
Penance
A means of repairing a sin committed, and obtaining pardon for it, consisting partly in the performance of expiatory rites, partly in voluntary submission to a punishment corresponding to the transgression, imposed by a confessor or other ecclesiastical authority. Penance is the fourth of seven sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church.
And bitter penance, with an iron whip.
Quoth he, "The man hath penance done,And penance more will do."
Penance
Any act performed by a person to atone for an offense to another; an act of atonement.
Penance
To impose penance; to punish.
Penance
Remorse for your past conduct
Penance
A Catholic sacrament; repentance and confession and satisfaction and absolution
Penance
Voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing
Common Curiosities
How does one achieve atonement?
Atonement can be achieved through personal reflection, making amends, and seeking forgiveness from those hurt by one's actions.
What are common forms of penance in Christianity?
Common forms include prayers, fasting, and charity work, often prescribed by a priest or religious authority.
What is the role of penance in atonement?
Penance serves as a concrete expression of remorse and a step towards making amends within the process of atonement.
Can atonement be forced?
Effective atonement generally requires voluntary action and genuine remorse, making forced atonement unlikely to be sincere.
Can atonement include penance?
Yes, atonement can include acts of penance as part of the broader effort to make amends and reconcile.
Is penance always religious?
Typically, penance is associated with religious practices, though the concept can be applied in secular contexts as symbolic acts of repentance.
How is penance typically determined in religious contexts?
Penance is usually determined by the severity of the sin and the doctrinal guidelines of the religion.
Can atonement occur without penance?
Yes, atonement can occur through other forms of making amends and does not strictly require penance.
What is the main difference between atonement and penance?
Atonement is a broad, often internal process aimed at moral repair, while penance is a specific act or series of acts focusing on demonstrating repentance.
What does atonement aim to restore?
Atonement aims to restore both personal integrity and relationships damaged by one's actions.
Can penance be self-imposed?
While typically assigned by a religious authority, individuals can choose to undertake personal acts of penance.
What is the significance of atonement in society?
Atonement helps maintain social harmony by addressing and rectifying wrongs.
Is atonement the same as forgiveness?
Atonement involves making amends and can lead to forgiveness, but they are not the same; forgiveness is what the wronged party grants, while atonement is what the wrongdoer seeks.
How do different religions view penance?
Different religions have various practices and views on penance, often involving rituals and prescribed acts.
What impact does performing penance have on an individual?
Performing penance can lead to personal growth, spiritual renewal, and the restoration of social and religious standing.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Biometrics vs. Biostatistics
Next Comparison
Sum vs. SummationAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
