Am I the only one?

[Molly2000z]

Im just wondering if anyone is as confused to what truth is anymore as I am. I read…I read a lot, and the more I read the more confused I get. For example everyones favorite salvation outside of the church. I read information from around when it was declared and the following popes to see how they understand it and than I come into the present and see how we are suppose to understand it today according to the church. I find myself wondering are we talking about the same doctrine because this pope said this and this teaching document is saying the exact opposite of this popes statement. Than I get the well this is his interpretation of the teaching so its not infallible or it was a different time. OK so everyone is saying something different about it and some conflict and I am left with a string of words that mean something that I have to believe but what that means nobody knows.

At one time I worried about this sort of thing, especially about people who don’t believe in any God whatsoever.
Then I read about Thomas and how Jesus said that those who believe without seeing are blessed, BUT, He appeared to Thomas and he let Thomas satisfy himself that He was in fact, Jesus.
I figure that this was a message that we’ll get what we need in order to have faith provided with ask with an honest and open heart.

 

[cothrige]

I believe the reason many people find it ambiguous or difficult to understand is because it is written in theological language. It was not meant to answer questions. That’s what the companion does. It was mean to lay out the faith of the Catholic Church in a systematic form, using the best language of theology and philosophy.

I have no complaint about the language, but I do not like the organization and poor indexing. The newer versions did clear the latter up just a tiny bit, though not well enough IMO, but the former problem is still there. If you are looking for information on specific topics you can end up flipping through that tome for ages without actually finding what you need. But the information itself is usally very clear and easy to follow, IMO.

There is a very good catechism put out by the the Bishops of the United States called the Catechism for Adults. It is succinct and is based on the CCC.

I was looking at this in a book store not long ago, and I have to say that it seems to have improved not at all on the CCC’s organizational and indexing failings, but has added very cloudy language and questionable content to it. I was extremely dubious of this text based on some of what I had found (unfortunately I cannot seem to recall the specifics right now or I would share them but after all I was just browsing it in a store) and thought the layout was extremely unclear.

If one reads it without analyzing it, just letting yourself go with the flow of the test, it is actually very poety and in the end you actually understand it.

I’m sorry, but that seems a strange way to describe a catechism. It is how I would describe Finnegans Wake, but I am not sure if that is a good thing that you can say it about a catechism.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Actually, the reason I find it ambiguous is because it tries to be too “nice” about our faith. The modern world is too politically correct. The CCC is too accomodating and watered down.

I prefer the Catechism of Trent.

I can’t skim the CCC because the wording is so theologically precise. I don’t find it watered down.

 

[PHX_Paul]

I think you have to pick your sources extremely carefully and then you have to be VERY careful with the interpretation. Always rely on the Church.

I stick with the Bible and the CCC.]

Thank you!

DITTO!

Paul

 

[JReducation]

Actually, the reason I find it ambiguous is because it tries to be too “nice” about our faith. The modern world is too politically correct. The CCC is too accomodating and watered down.

I prefer the Catechism of Trent.

The CCC is theology. It is not politics and it is not a sermon. Theology has its own language, tone, nuance, and semantics.

If we want the official Catechism of the Catholic Church to be tough, it’s not going to happen. This is not it’s goal. The reason it was published was to teach theology, not to convert anyone. Though many people have been converted by reading it. Its truths and its language is absorbing.

As to the organization, it was organized by themes. That’s where the companion to the CCC is helpful.

JR

 

[belgianwaffles9]

The CCC is theology. It is not politics and it is not a sermon. Theology has its own language, tone, nuance, and semantics.

If we want the official Catechism of the Catholic Church to be tough, it’s not going to happen. This is not it’s goal. The reason it was published was to teach theology, not to convert anyone. Though many people have been converted by reading it. Its truths and its language is absorbing.

As to the organization, it was organized by themes. That’s where the companion to the CCC is helpful.

JR

Not going to happen, huh? The Catechism of Trent is much tougher, sound smuch more authoritative, and doesnt water down the faith. It lays out what Cathlics believe and make it very clear that everything else is false.

There’s nothing wrong per se with the CCC. I just prefer the Catechism of trent.

Deal with it.

 

[anamchara]

Not going to happen, huh? The Catechism of Trent is much tougher, sound smuch more authoritative, and doesnt water down the faith. It lays out what Cathlics believe and make it very clear that everything else is false.

There’s nothing wrong per se with the CCC. I just prefer the Catechism of trent.

** Deal with it**.

Ooo I’m feelin’ the love in here LOL! I think you made the mistake of thinking the Church is in a time warp.

 

[belgianwaffles9]

Ooo I’m feelin’ the love in here LOL! I think you made the mistake of thinking the Church is in a time warp.

I just feel particularily persecuted today.

 

[Dennis_Ramos]

I had a very terrible journey throughout the different interpretations
of church doctrine , and the basic steps to the catholic faith has always been the catholic bible and the writings of st.thomas aquinas as well as the teachings of st.ignatius of loyola , because you have a lot of propaganda being taught without the vatican or conference of catholic bishops being aware of it.
If we sit around and listen to everything being taught , we will pursue every thing that is contrary to the word of G+D , and sometimes we see these things taking place in the evangelical churches in america , for instance the false teachings involving G+D hates poor people and they are curse , such blasphemy againts JESUS and Our Blessed Mother , who was caught looking for an inn to stay in , or the LORD taking pity on the blind beggar , we all have to try to stick to catechism and the doctrine of the faith , as pope benedict teaches us , one church.