Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church (Jesus, rituals, reject, Creator)

[Dunemeister]

As I've said publicly and privately, I'd like to be a Catholic, but I can't as a result of certain doctrines and practices where I believe the Church has got it seriously wrong. However, I also admit that I don't know a great deal about the faith of the RCC. So, I'm going to blog my way through the Roman Catholic Catechism. I've found an online copy, and each post, I'm going to rework it only slightly so that the footnotes appear in the midst of the text, not as footnotes. Otherwise, it's a copy-and-paste job. After the posted section, I'll offer my comments, and then wait a bit while others contribute.

Please note that this thread is in the Catholic section. Therefore, I'd prefer that only committed Catholics or those not obviously or fundamentally opposed to the Catholic Church participate. Skeptics (Christian or otherwise), please resist the temptation to interject unless you can help me understand the issues as presented in the catechism. This is a discussion. I don't intend this to be a debate.

That preamble done, here's the first post.

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I. THE DESIRE FOR GOD

27 The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:

Originally Posted by Vatican Council II

The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator.

28 In many ways, throughout history down to the present day, men have given expression to their quest for God in their religious beliefs and behavior: in their prayers, sacrifices, rituals, meditations, and so forth. These forms of religious expression, despite the ambiguities they often bring with them, are so universal that one may well call man a religious being:

Originally Posted by Acts 17:26-28

From one ancestor [God] made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him - though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For "in him we live and move and have our being."

29 But this "intimate and vital bond of man to God" (GS 19 § 1 -- Can any RCs out there explain what this reference means so I can cross-check it? Thanks.) can be forgotten, overlooked, or even explicitly rejected by man. Such attitudes can have different causes: revolt against evil in the world; religious ignorance or indifference; the cares and riches of this world; the scandal of bad example on the part of believers; currents of thought hostile to religion; finally, that attitude of sinful man which makes him hide from God out of fear and flee his call. (Cf Mt 13:22; Gen 3:8-10; Jon 1:3)

30 "Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice." (Ps 105:3) Although man can forget God or reject him, He never ceases to call every man to seek him, so as to find life and happiness. But this search for God demands of man every effort of intellect, a sound will, "an upright heart", as well as the witness of others who teach him to seek God.

Originally Posted by St. Augustine, Confessions

You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised: great is your power and your wisdom is without measure. And man, so small a part of your creation, wants to praise you: this man, though clothed with mortality and bearing the evidence of sin and the proof that you withstand the proud. Despite everything, man, though but a small a part of your creation, wants to praise you. You yourself encourage him to delight in your praise, for you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.

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I have to say that so far, I agree with the catechism. It seems obvious to me that the various religious expressions in the world can't but be humankind's straining after the divine. The variety of religious expression shows that we're kind of a muddled bunch. Our vision is blurry, our hearing impaired. And to make any sense of the divine requires us to fully engage every aspect of our being, and most of all it demands extraordinary integrity. This is why we're apt to find a great deal of wisdom in any serious religion with any sort of pedigree. For me, this entails that I can't look down on anyone else for following a different religion. They're doing the best they can (presumably) with the resources they have at hand. As a follower of Jesus, my job is to help the other person acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and part of that will be to show how God has indeed revealed himself to them already in the path they have inherited or chosen. The Christian way may be more brightly lit and sure, but it has no monopoly on truth.

[Victor]

Nope, it sure doesn't. It's easily seen by the good you see around you by people who are not even Catholic or Christian or even believe in God.

Peter Kreeft has a wonderful saying:
Everything in the universe has its being not only from God but also toward God.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

So, I'm going to blog my way through the Roman Catholic Catechism.

Be careful... I did the same thing as a Protestant 5 years ago... and look what happend to me!

[Fish-Hunter]

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

As I've said publicly and privately, I'd like to be a Catholic, but I can't as a result of certain doctrines and practices where I believe the Church has got it seriously wrong.

In our search for truth, we should listen to both sides. Here is a site that should help you understand the other side. Catholic answers consists of lay apologist, many are Protestant converts to Rome.

Catholic Answers: Catholic Apologetics, Catholic Evangelization, Catholic Teachings, Catholic Radio, Catholic Publishing, Catholic Truth

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Fish-Hunter

Here is a site that should help you understand the other side.

While I applaud your efforts to seek understanding... Catholic Answers does in fact have some errors... is quite harsh in their treatment of Protestants... and can not compare to the OFFICIAL teaching of the Church.

Dune - stick to the Catechism

[Victor]

Scott is right...they are heavy handed toward Protestants......but you can find some good articles in there.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Victor

Scott is right...they are heavy handed toward Protestants......but you can find some good articles in there.

Well said my friend... some of the BEST out there.... but always reference their articles with official teaching is all I'm saying.

[Fish-Hunter]

Originally Posted by Scott1

While I applaud your efforts to seek understanding... Catholic Answers does in fact have some errors... is quite harsh in their treatment of Protestants... and can not compare to the OFFICIAL teaching of the Church.

Dune - stick to the Catechism

HI Scott1,

Do you recommend the Companion to the Catholic Catechism to help me understand the Catholic Catechism? Which Catholic Catechism do you recommend? They all look very helpful.

Companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church

$39.95

Product no. BS-CTC-1

Companion To The Catechism Of The Catholic Church - This Companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Book of References contains all the passages of Sacred Scripture referred to in the Catechism arranged according to the paragraphs in which the references are made. Additionally, it refers to conciliar texts, papal documents, writings of the Fathers and of the Saints. There are more than 3,600 of these references extending from the earliest creedal formulations of the ancient Church to the documents of Vatican II and beyond to the magisterial teaching of Pope John Paul II. The Book of References includes all the texts referred to arranged, along with the Scripture passages, according to the paragraphs of the Catechism in which they are referred. This Book of References is a valuable instrument in teaching, understanding, and implementing the Catechism. It is a handy one-volume reference library for use with the Catechism., pp 972, soft

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