Confession of sins

Not permitted to confess sins to another soul--repent to God, the One Who absolves sins of the repentant

"To none is it permitted to seek absolution from another soul; let repentance be between yourselves and God. He, verily, is the Pardoner, the Bounteous, the Gracious, the One Who absolveth the repentant."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 34)

Confession of sins to another human being is prohibited (God doesn't wish our humiliation)

"The ninth Glad-Tidings

"When the sinner findeth himself wholly detached and freed from all save God, he should beg forgiveness and pardon from Him. Confession of sins and transgressions before human beings is not permissible, as it hath never been nor will ever be conducive to divine forgiveness. Moreover such confession before people results in one's humiliation and abasement, and God--exalted be His glory--wisheth not the humiliation of His servants. Verily He is the Compassionate, the Merciful."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh (Bishárát), p. 24)

"Bahá'u'lláh prohibits confession to, and seeking absolution of one's sins from, a human being. Instead one should beg forgiveness from God. In the Tablet of [Bishárát], He states that "such confession before people results in one's humiliation and abasement", and He affirms that God "wisheth not the humiliation of His servants".

(Bahá'í World Centre, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Note no. 58)

We may acknowledge being wrong in something or having a fault of character and ask for forgiveness from another

"Shoghi Effendi sets the prohibition into context. His secretary has written on his behalf that we       

"...are forbidden to confess to any person, as do the Catholics to their priests, our sins and shortcomings, or to do so in public, as some religious sects do. However, if we spontaneously desire to acknowledge we have been wrong in something, or that we have some fault of character, and ask another person's forgiveness or pardon, we are quite free to do so."

(Bahá'í World Centre, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Note no. 58)

Individuals may, in the course of consultations, admit transgressions before Bahá'í institutions

"The Universal House of Justice has also clarified that Bahá'u'lláh's prohibition concerning the confession of sins does not prevent an individual from admitting transgressions in the course of consultations held under the aegis of Bahá'í institutions."

(Bahá'í World Centre, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Note no. 58)

One may seek advice from a close friend or professional counsellor (in the course of coming to terms with some personal sin?)

"Likewise, it does not preclude the possibility of seeking advice from a close friend or of a professional counsellor regarding such matters."

(Bahá'í World Centre, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Note no. 58, regarding verse "To none is it permitted to seek absolution from another soul")

See also

• Priesthood
• Apology
• Bringing oneself to account
• Autocracy (confession of sins being one example used to highlight non-autocratic nature of the Faith)
• Bahá'í Faith#Distinguishing character of Bahá'í character consists not only of validity of this Dispensation and its teachings but also in its suppression of unwarranted practices and rigid/rigorous observances abated (confession of sins being one such practice)