text: Penance and repentance , similar in their derivation and original sense , have come to symbolize conflicting views of the essence of repentance , arising from the controversy as to the respective merits of `` faith '' and `` good works . ''
simplified: Penance and repentance were similar in their original sense . After the controversy about the merits of `` faith '' and `` good works '' they are seen as conflicting views .