Secrets
Human beings have secrets. We all have them, some are little, some big. Some life changing and some insignificant. They can reflect past misgivings, hidden desires or future actions. The Catholics figured it out. Confess and they give you absolution. Its easy, you do it behind a wall and it goes straight to the big guy. Is there any wonder there are a lot fewer Jews. For a Jew when you screw up it is time to deal with the consequence both here and in the afterlife. Of course also mandating men having to cut their penis might have had something to do with it. There are a myriad of reasons we keep secrets. Some are out of emotional necessity, some are simply humility. Every voluntary confession however it is done, is to meet a persons own needs. It is mostly a way of relieving guilt that nags at the soul and festers like an open wound. Of course most wounds heal but at the moment the panic of the guilt can overwhelm sensibility. Confessions are rarely made for the benefit