Beyond the rules of the Church

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I was wondering if some people could put into a few words (maybe a sentence or 3) to me, the philosophy (or perhaps dogma is the correct word) of the Catholic Church. What does it stands for? I have sort of a murky, vague idea in my head so I am calling on your clear heads to help.

I must say, a lot of people here seem to have a focus with “the rules” and following them, and that’s good and all, but I know Catholicism must go beyond that. Yet, many here keep seemign to come back to the rules; it seems impossible to transcend at times. And I am surprised I don’t see much discussion on that.

It’s like our American government. On one level, you have a bunch of laws and state laws, and the judicial branch, legislative branch, yadda, yadda. But America is more than that.

The philosophy of our politics is freedom and that if you bring freedom to all people, a gov’t that serves the people, then a nation becomes stronger and people are free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. That’s the philosophy and beleifs on which laws are based.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? I am not suggesting we reduce Catholicism to a catchy “tagline” but a summary may be good for those who are converting or need converting and providing focus.
 
I think maybe the Apostles Creed would summarize (yes, more than 3 sentences) the “philosophy” (belief)…then add to that, that the Eucharist is the body and blood, soul and divinity, of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

You won’t find any Church rules in the above!

JELane
 
Many possible answers as no super simple answer is complete.

How about:

The Catholic Church is the Body of Christ with Christ as its Head and calls its members to share in lifegiving love.
 
I guess I mean (and I am going to make a fumbling try at it and let you criticize):

Salvation is acheived through the following of God’s Law and the reception of sacraments while here on Earth and through the teachings of Jesus Christ, who came and died for us.

For instance, back to my America analogy, we hold Freedom as the highest ideal. Do Catholics hold Salvation as the highest ideal?

Something like that. I know the Apostle’s Creed but I don’t think it summarizes the philosophy of the Church.

Thanks for the quick responses by the way.
 
I think the best way to describe the Catholic Church,( aside from the Body of Christ), is as the family of household of God, a very large extended family with family traditions, rituals and celebrations and all the pushing and pulling, joys and sorrows of a large extended family. It is a messy business, but what family isn’t and there is no better alternative.
 
Catholocism is the christian way of life. We are to live for, in, and through the Lord Jesus. We are God and neighbor centered just as Jesus taught us. The Eucharist, our Holy Communion, is our food for the journey as we are led by the Holy Spirit to our heavenly home.
 
I can’t even order breakfast in under three sentences (yep, long-windedness is a fault of mine), but I think I know what you’re asking for. It seems to be you did pretty well in your example!

You seem to have a pretty good grasp of much of this (even though by some of your other posts you question that) and for me, right now, salvation is the main point in my quest, which is for perfection of the soul so I can go to heaven.

I’m curious to see the other responses from those who are well versed in this “stuff.” Thanks for this thread.

JELane
 
Utter supplication, body, mind, spirit to the boundless mercy and sanctifying grace of God.
 
Throughout history theologians have struggled to summarize the Church, and 100+ years ago Anglicanism came up with what is called the Quadrilateral, 4 basic points regarding what the Christian Church is and tries to be:

Based on 1) the Old and New Testaments of Sacred Scripture as the revealed Word of God and the 2) Nicene Creed as the adequate human expression of that revelation, the Church uses 3) bishops (and other clergy) who have directly succeeded the Apostles to transmit 4) sacramental grace, especially Baptism and the Eucharist, to the members of the Church.

You would not believe the amount of editing and parsing I had to do just to write this one sentence! In Rotary Club we have something called the Four Way Test of being a good Rotarian, and this Quadrilateral is almost a Four Way Test of a full Christian Church (ironically many would argue that Anglicanism lost #3 and so is not). But Catholicism and Orthodoxy would be the most obvious examples, and hopefully the “rules” make us a better and stronger Church.
 
I would have to say It is the divine love story, God came done to the world to propose to us in divine marriage. Our faith is not about necessarily theology and philosophy but about our relationship with God. Theology and Philosophy are, as C.S. Lewis states, like maps. God comes down to us, sacrifices all for us despite our undeserving selves and gives us his life. I hope that helps.
 
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WhiteDove:
Utter supplication, body, mind, spirit to the boundless mercy and sanctifying grace of God.
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A deep mystical answer. You can pray and meditate on this one for quite a while. 😃
 
just as one would have difficulty in fully encapsulating America in 3 sentences, all of what the Church offers cannot be simply explained. our faith can be effectively described by either of our creeds, the Apostolic or the Nicean-Constantinoplian. the catechism does a fantastic job of flushing out the great depth of these beliefs, it will be a great resource for you.
very much, she is the means to a relationship with God. i’d like to quote from a prayer in St John’s litugy to say the Church gives us a place (not just physical) where:
“It is fitting and proper to sing to You, to bless You, to praise You, to give You thanks, to worship You whereever You reign. For You are God, ineffable, inconceivable, invisable, incomprehensible, ever being and being ever the same: You and Your Only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. You brought us out of not-being into being. After we fell, You raised us up and never deserted us. You did everything for us to bring us to heaven and give us the kingdom to come. For all these things we thank You and Your Holy Spirit, for all that we are aware of and not aware of, for all the benefits done for us, seen and unseen.”
however, this is the church of the Begining and the End, so none of us will ever come to a full grasp of all that she is.
thanks for listening, love and peace, terry
 
Perhaps the opening words of the prologue of the Catechism of the Catholic Church are a good summary statement of the Catholic philosophy:

“FATHER, . . . this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) “God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim 2:3-4) “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12) than the name of JESUS.
 
Thanks all for participating in this difficult exercise.

I guess I am searching as to what the highest ideal (maybe rather than philosophy or beleif) of the Catholic Church. I should have probably thought about it more before I wrote it down. Like “Freedom” is probably America’s highest ideal. Sure, it’s not always acheived (like when I have to stand in line at an airport and have my bag scanned/searched) but it is the ideal to which we strive.

Is the highest ideal of the Catholic Church - “charity to your fellow man and brother?” That often seemed like Jesus’ highest ideal.

Or is salvation from sin the highest ideal?

Or is reverence and/or piety the highest ideal for which a parishioner should strive?
 
The church exists to help all people come to love God with their whole heart, mind, & soul and to love their neighbor as they love themselves.
 
T.A. Stobie:

So, to you, the “raison d’etre” of the Catholic Church is to create virtuous people through God?

So, “virtue through love” would be it’s highest ideal?
 
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T.A. Stobie:

So, to you, the “raison d’etre” of the Catholic Church is to create virtuous people through God?

So, “virtue through love” would be it’s highest ideal?
Click to expand...
yes, we are all called to be saints and the Church serves to foster this call through embracing Love and Truth.
 
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I was wondering if some people could put into a few words (maybe a sentence or 3) to me, the philosophy (or perhaps dogma is the correct word) of the Catholic Church. What does it stands for? I have sort of a murky, vague idea in my head so I am calling on your clear heads to help.

I must say, a lot of people here seem to have a focus with “the rules” and following them, and that’s good and all, but I know Catholicism must go beyond that. Yet, many here keep seemign to come back to the rules; it seems impossible to transcend at times. And I am surprised I don’t see much discussion on that.

It’s like our American government. On one level, you have a bunch of laws and state laws, and the judicial branch, legislative branch, yadda, yadda. But America is more than that.

The philosophy of our politics is freedom and that if you bring freedom to all people, a gov’t that serves the people, then a nation becomes stronger and people are free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. That’s the philosophy and beleifs on which laws are based.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? I am not suggesting we reduce Catholicism to a catchy “tagline” but a summary may be good for those who are converting or need converting and providing focus.
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The New Testament records that a young man went to Jesus and asked what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said keep the commandments. The man said he had kept them since he was a child. Jesus, then, looked on him amd loved him.

The main reason I think Catholcisim is right is because it is true.
 
So there seems to be a consensus that a virtuous life, a saintly life, is the highest ideal to Catholicism.

But of course, just virtue alone can’t cut it - there must be faith too.
 
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Scanner:
So there seems to be a consensus that a virtuous life, a saintly life, is the highest ideal to Catholicism.

But of course, just virtue alone can’t cut it - there must be faith too.
Click to expand...
A saintly life is a virtuous life based on faith.
 
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