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Catholicism Introduction The religion has great impact on the modern society. With the aid of religion you acknowledge something more important you bridge your personal constraints, social restrictions and frailty, located on the one side, and the other angle of absolute values on the other side. In other words, the correlation between religion and society eliminates a gap between the lowest and the highest levels of being. The aim of this essay is to examine Catholic religion and to explain its basic postulates, doctrines, the structure of the Holy Church and its impact on life of the modern people. Catholicism Catholicism (The Catholic religion (Gr. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - universal, oecumenical). The term Catholicism (? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ) (New Catholic Encyclopedia 215) was used in the beginning of 110 CE in the letter of St.
Ignatius to the inhabitants of Smyrna and was introduced in the Nikon doctrines of faith. Catholicism belongs to Christian religion. It was finally created in 1054, after the separation of Western and Eastern Churches. The motto of Catholic religion is: Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ad omnibus creditum est (The religion, which is recognized by everybody, everywhere and always) (The Collegeville Pastoral Dictionary 93). The Catholic Church is governed by the Bishop of Rome.
The Catholic religion has several peculiarities in religious doctrines, cult and structure of religious organization. It embraces the features of development of Western-European society in the Middle Ages. The main doctrines of Catholic religion are introduced in Catechesis or Catechism. Catechesis is the instruction by word of mouth, used to teach the youth and adults, especially during the preparation for initiation into Christianity (Catechism of the Catholic Church 4).
The Church presents signs, marks and notes, which have to prove that the Church is the Church of Christ. According to Cardinal Newman, These notes are, as anyone knows who has looked into the subject, certain great and simple characteristics which He who founded the Church has stamped upon her, in order to draw both the reason and the imagination of men to her as being really a Divine work, and a religion distinct from all other religious communities (All. , And. , VI). Besides, the same notes are also given in the Nicene Creed: I believe in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church Lets examine these postulates. Church: the One According to Catholic theologists, the Catholic Church is the One.
To prove this thesis, they present in evidence the words of Christ: "Other sheep I have that are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd" (Jo. N, 16). Besides, the Church is one in her faith. It never fails in sacred religious teaching and Catholic doctrines are based on the Holy Bible.
Holy Church The Church is Holy. Theologists claim that Catholic Church is dedicated to God. The man is holy if he is united to God and the day is holy if it is dedicated to God. The Church is Holy in her members, - It shall be heard in the ends of the earth that the Saviour cometh; and they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord" (Isaias LXII, 11, 12) Next evidence, which proves the holiness of Catholic Church is presented by numerous Divine evidences, prophecies, miracles and Divine messengers. These signs make people believe the Catholic religion is really the Holy and divine. Catholic Church The Catholic Church (Kata means through, holo's means whole).
It means that the Church is supposed to exist in all ages and in all places. Catholics bring in evidence words of Mathews: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and behold I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world" (Matt. , last verse). Apostolic Church The term Apostolic means that the Church has right to govern and teach the people today and throughout all times and ages, as it is written in the Holy Bible: Go therefore, teach all nations, ... and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world" (Matt. , last verse).
According to this, the Catholic Church (as it is claimed by Catholics) has all these marks: Unity of Worship: The Church shows it is the Holy Sacrifice of its Mass. Unity of Faith: The Church is the final and incontestable authority. It has the right to exclude people who refuse to obey the Church Unity of Charity: intercommunion Unity of Government: The religious leaders receive the instructions from Rome and have to obey the threshold of the Apostle Jesus Christ The Catholic religion calls him the incarnate son of God. What does it mean? According to Catholicism, Jesus Christ is the Lord. He is incarnate son of God because name the Lord is one of Gods names.
He is called Jesus, -Savior, - this name was given to him by Archangel Gabriel. He is called Christ, - Anointed Sovereign, - by prophets that name was used for pontiffs, kings and prophets from the ancient times. Jesus, Son of the God. Catholics believe that Jesus Christ, the incarnate son of God, who was born by his Father and also incarnate man, who was born by Maria, is God. Although in the New Testament words about Jesus Christ were quite simple, - for example, it was written that Jesus is the God, or in the Gospel people told: I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God.
Catholic religion focuses attention on the figure of Jesus Christ. The priests explain that Jesus was actually born by his Father, the God. Imagine that relations between the Father and the Son the Father born the Son and that the Son was born by the Father always existed. It didnt happen during some period of time, even before the creation of the world. It was always like this. When we speak that the God is the Father it is not only the turn of speech, but it shows relation between the Trinity.
The religion understands that Jesus is the incarnate God from the eternity. The Father always loved his Son. His love doesnt have the beginning; it doesnt have the ending as well. This love didnt change. Jesus is always the one the incarnate Son, beloved by his father. The Gospel tells about two triumphant moments: divine Epiphany and Transfiguration, when the voice of Father calls Him beloved Son.
Jesus calls himself the Son of the God and by these words he confirms His eternal existence. Jesus cannot create by His own will, but only by his Fathers will (In. 5: 19). All Catholics, who believe in God, can be called the sons of the God but they are not incarnate Sons of the God this is the difference, the author says in his book. People can become the sons of the God through their belief in God, they are incarnate in meaning truthful but not in the actual meaning of this word. Only Jesus can be the incarnate Son of God.
The Head of Catholic Church The Bishop of Rome is called the Supreme Pontiff or the Pope and is the head of Catholic Church. He has the power of jurisdiction over the Catholic priests and bishops. Pope is the successor of Saint Peter. Catholic Church claims that If any one say that it is not by the institution of Christ our Lord Himself, that is by Divine right, that Blessed Peter has an unbroken line of successors in the Primacy over the whole Church, or that the Roman Pontiff is not the successor of Blessed Peter in the same Primacy, let him be anathema (A systematic Study of the Catholic Religion n. p. ) The main doctrines of Catholicism The main doctrines of Catholicism are introduced in the Creeds (the symbols of faith. The most anciens symbol of faith is the Apostles Creed (400 AD).
The Nicene Creed (Constantinople 331) is usually recited by priest during the Sundays Holy Mass as a part of religious ceremony. The traditional Nicene Creed starts as follows: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages; God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten not made; consubstantial with the Father; by whom all things were made Catholics believe that Jesus Christ came down from heaven for our salvation. He is the incarnate of the Holy Ghost and Virgin Mary. Christ was crucified for us and was buried. The third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures: and ascended into Heaven, sixtieth at the right hand of the Father (The Nicene Creed).
Jesus Christ will come back again with glory and will judge all the people: both the dead and the living. His kingdom will be endless. Catholics believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeded from the Father, and the Son (Nicene Creed n. p. ) and in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Catholics confess and adopt the one Baptism from remission of sins and look for resurrection of the dead, and life of the world to come (The Nicene Creed n. p. ) There are also the Athanasian Creed (17 th century) and the Tridentine Creed by Pope Pins IV in 1563. the Tridentine Creed introduces the main doctrines opposed to the Protestant Church. The Vatican Creed (by Pope Pius IX in 1870) introduces some additions to Vatican definitions. The Holy Trinity The concept of Trinity is, arguably, the most important concept of Catholic religion. It is quite controversial issue and is the subject of heated debates between the Catholic and other Christian religions.
According to the Nicene Creed, the doctrines concerning Trinity are as follows: I believe in God the Father Almighty and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, ... in the Holy Ghost... Yet, there is another interpretation of concept of Trinity, given in the Athanasian Creed: The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, the Holy Ghost is uncreated... The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Ghost is God; ... and yet there are not three Gods, but there is one God... The Father is not made by any one, nor created, nor born.
The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but born. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and the Son, not made, nor created, nor born, but proceeding (Dulles 127) This conflict in interpretation was soon eliminated by insertion of the word filioque (and of the Son) in the Nicene Creed. This doctrine was accepted in 1274, during the second Council of Lyons. General Duties The Catholic Church provides people with liberty of choice. People are free to choose and determine their own act at choice. Yet, God obliges people to do good and to avoid the evil.
The God determines several rules, called the Ten Commandments: I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt not have strange Gods before Me (Ex. XX, 2 - 6). All violations of this rule mean the crime against faith. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath Day Honor thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest be long-lived upon the land which the Lord thy God will give thee Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods The Impact of Catholicism on Society The impact of Catholicism on the modern society is presented in quantitative growth of religious organizations, restoration and development of various confessions, development and progress of social-demographic contingent of the faithful, discovering the new forms of social (out-of-cult) forms of social activities, etc. The achievements and impact of religion on American society are really great. 63 % of American citizens consider themselves belonging to one of religious confessions.
Besides, the Roman-Catholic Church is one of the most numerous confessions with approximately 60 millions of adherents. The approximate number of American religious districts reaches 300 thousands. American priesthood (both the secular and regular clergy) makes up more than 530. 000 people. According to the modern surveys, quantity of Americans taking part in weekly religious ceremonies exceeds quantity of spectators on weekly sport competitions. The Catholicism is aimed to develop and encourage the sources of pluralism, self-criticism and self-awareness and in such a way it contributes into the maturing of society. Religious ideas have influence on the society in general and politics in particular.
Some religious ideas influenced different political and social movements, including abolitionism and social issues concerning human rights. Catholicism remains the system within which people acknowledge civil standards and rights. Its very difficult to exclude Catholicism from social life, however, the government makes all efforts to maintain neutrality regarding religion. Bibliography: Catechism of the Catholic Church. Ignatius Press, 2000. Catholic University of America.
New Catholic Encyclopedia. Gale Group, 2003 The Collegeville Pastoral Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Liturgical Press, 1996. Copies, Charles. The Catholic Religion. University of Note Damme.
Retrieved December 21, 2005. < web > Dulles, Avery. The Theology of the Church: a Bibliography. Paulist Press, 1999
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