Theological Deficiency in Christian Cultures

[Matt_Tiza]

One of the observations that I’ve made time and time again is that many people across all Christian faiths seem to lack a basic understanding of theology.

Faith is a journey, and it is important to start out with the right footing lest we fall astray from the path that our Lord has prepared for us. This is so important in Catechesis and in the formation of all Christian faiths, yet somehow we seem to lose sight of the basics. As Christians it is easy to get involved in the variety of Bible studies, Christian seminars, and social issues of the day, yet how do we address such complex topics without the fundamentals of theology?

In my observations there are a few basic theological questions that many Christians cannot seem to answer satisfactorily or even subconsciously put into practice in their daily lives.

Who is God?

What is the purpose of our lives in our particular time and space?

Why do bad things happen to good people? or Why do people get sick or injured and die, particularly young people?

What is the logical reasoning behind the various moral codes of Christianity (e.g. the Ten Commandments, precepts, Church traditions)?

These seem like questions that must be addressed and answered within the first year of Christian formation. How else can we expect our young people to make sense out of the complex lives that we lead in our changing world?

I know that I walked through the first part of my life without good answers to these questions. Admittedly my own Catechesis was very weak, and I only learned through the hard lessons of life. This does not have to be so for our children. The consequences of these hard lessons are often permanent and result in many broken spirits and empty lives.

In short it seems like Christian cultures do not understand God or even trust in His Divine Will.

Is this a fair statement?

What are your thoughts on theological deficiency in Christian cultures?

 

[Swiss_Guy]

There isn’t theological deficiency in Christian Cultures. There is theological deficiency in secular cultures that used to be Christian.

 

[Cordelil]

I think part of the problem stems from the breakdown of the family as it exists in the U.S. Many of these like the one I grew up in have little stability, no religious attachments, and very little parental involvement. So the young have no spiritual orientation or development.

Then there are the families that have a tangentially religious and the youngsters have a loose connection to their family faith. This is strengthen some by catechism courses but not much.

I suppose what I am driving at is the problem are societies not having full intact families who are committed Christians. It should start in the family.

 

[Nita]

One of the observations that I’ve made time and time again is that many people across all Christian faiths seem to lack a basic understanding of theology.

Faith is a journey, and it is important to start out with the right footing lest we fall astray from the path that our Lord has prepared for us. This is so important in Catechesis and in the formation of all Christian faiths, yet somehow we seem to lose sight of the basics. As Christians it is easy to get involved in the variety of Bible studies, Christian seminars, and social issues of the day, yet how do we address such complex topics without the fundamentals of theology?

In my observations there are a few basic theological questions that many Christians cannot seem to answer satisfactorily or even subconsciously put into practice in their daily lives.

Who is God?

What is the purpose of our lives in our particular time and space?

Why do bad things happen to good people? or Why do people get sick or injured and die, particularly young people?

What is the logical reasoning behind the various moral codes of Christianity (e.g. the Ten Commandments, precepts, Church traditions)?

These seem like questions that must be addressed and answered within the first year of Christian formation. How else can we expect our young people to make sense out of the complex lives that we lead in our changing world?

I know that I walked through the first part of my life without good answers to these questions. Admittedly my own Catechesis was very weak, and I only learned through the hard lessons of life. This does not have to be so for our children. The consequences of these hard lessons are often permanent and result in many broken spirits and empty lives.

In short it seems like Christian cultures do not understand God or even trust in His Divine Will.

Is this a fair statement?

What are your thoughts on theological deficiency in Christian cultures?

I agree with you. I do think we are in need of better preparation to respond to the challenges to our Catholic, Christian faith. I had a solid grounding in Catholic doctrine (probably betrays my age ) and have been very grateful for it.

For us ordinary people, the challenge to Catholicism 10+++ years ago, was Catholic vs. Protestant. Today the biggest challenge is Catholic (and all Christian religions) versus atheism, secularism, materialism. . (I think this battle was overt in intellectual circles long before 10+ years ago – long before it filtered down to us common people in everyday life ) This challenge means a whole new area of apologetics needs to be addressed and mastered. The challenge has become far more “basic”. The questions you posed are very important in this area.

It seems to me that it’s becoming critical for Christians to unite in this battle. Perhaps that is part of God’s will in allowing this trial to happen. From the beginning He/Jesus has wanted us to be united (cf. John 17); has wanted us to be ONE - “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (cf. Eph 4:5).

It’s been about 6 years since I joined CAF, and in just those few years I’ve noticed changes in the forum.
IMO, there’s been a change in the thread topics from when I first started.
Another change I’ve noticed, and almost hate to mention, is that it seems there are more Catholic participants who do not seem to know the doctrines of the Church. I suppose it’s to be expected when one considers the state of Catechetics in the past 45 years - so I’m in no way criticizing those participants since they never received solid instruction on Church doctrines. The result is that it happens more frequently that a Catholic here on CAF, in all innocence (I think and hope), will respond to a question with an answer/opinion that contradicts Church teaching. It’s like they’ve been trained to look for answers in their own thinking (eg. What do you think is…) rather than checking to see if the Church has addressed and pronounced on that particular topic or issue.
I think it’s very important for all Catholic participants to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church - and to consult the Catechism before responding to questions - to be sure their response won’t contradict a teaching of the Church.

Sorry to go on so long. But yes, I agree with you - I know from experience. I asked my 30+ year old son (in the midst of a deeper conversation), “Why do you exist? What do you think is the reason for your existence?” He didn’t know; said it was a question he’d asked himself, but didn’t have an answer for! I told him I’ve known the answer to that basic human question since I was in first grade. Again, yes, I agree with you.

 

[Cordelil]

Only 1/2 of American adults can even name 1 of the 4 gospels.

Most Americans cannot name the first book fo the Bible.

Only 1/3 knew that Jesus delivered The Sermon on the Mount.

A majority of Americans believe that Jesus was born in Jerusalem.

Most American don’t know that Jonah is a book in the Bible.

10% of American believe that Joan of Arc was Jonah’s wife.

Resource: “Religious Iliteracy” Stephen Prothero

 

[Cordelil]

“In the Golden Age of Catholic education, students in CCD classes memorized the Baltimore Catechism by heart…”

“Moreover, efforts to update catechetical training have replaced time honored instruction about church traditions with touchy-feely conversations about one’s personal values.”

“As a result, nearly half of American Catholics often feel they can’t explain their faith to others.”

“Religious Illiteracy”

 

[R_C]

Who is God?

What is the purpose of our lives in our particular time and space?

Why do bad things happen to good people? or Why do people get sick or injured and die, particularly young people?

What is the logical reasoning behind the various moral codes of Christianity (e.g. the Ten Commandments, precepts, Church traditions)?

You call these “basic theological questions”?

I think truly basic questions are the ones found here, and these we should definitely know how to answer, since after all we partake in the redemptoris missio.

Those questions you mention have kept philosophers discussing for millennia, and the question we should ask ourselves is: can we even answer them? And if we ever do, will we even benefit from the answer?

Let me explain what I mean: as a Christian (and not particularly smart or knowledgeable) I could come up with basic answers to these not-so-basic questions:

1. God is.
2. Our purpose is to live.
3. When us, finite in wisdom and goodness, through our will freely act against the will of God, who is infinitely wise and infinitely good, we do unwise and bad things, causing harm to one another, particularly to innocents.
4. The logical reasoning is that our finite mind tries to come up with basic guidelines that may reflect God’s infinite wisdom.

When someone suffers an injustice - like an innocent loved one is harmed because of someone’s actions or out of illness or natural disaster - will I draw him closer to God if I explain that it’s our own fault? Best scenario, he will agree.

Now, if I try to mention the words of our Beloved on what *life *truly is, if I mention a few of the teachings of the Church on heaven and on the joy that innocents will experience dwelling in the infinite love of the Almighty, and if on top of that I am able to offer him some help in the time of distress, then perhaps he will experience that hope born from faith that may bring him so close to God and to his loved ones that he will no longer perceive the separation from God and other souls.

As Catholics, we need to become knowledgeable about the teachings of the Church, beginning with the Catechism.

As Christians, we should become as familiar as possible with the words spoken by Christ. Not like those people of old (and some modern groups) that recite scriptural passages like they were a key to heaven and an easy way to judge and sentence others, but as a way to understand the sweetness of God’s love which is given to us through Christ.

Anyways those are just my thoughts, sorry for writing too much.

 

[Matt_Tiza]

I’ve enjoyed reading all of the replies to this topic. To be fair I should pose answers to my own questions for your consideration.

1. In short… God is the ultimate reality, an infinite & transcendent being that created & administers the universe according to His Divine Will. We know Him in the 3 Persons of the Holy Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. We live to serve the purposes of the Divine Will of God. Though we do not know our purpose, we must accept what He has given to us, both triumphs and struggles, and to trust that His Will is ultimately good and self-fulfilling.
3. Going back to 2. we don’t understand the Divine Will of God as it extends over billions of years involving billions of human beings. We trust that everything, good or bad, happens for a reason and trust that His Divine Will is for the ultimate good. Injury, sickness, and loss educate and strengthen us while allowing for our santification through suffering. Without sickness or other problems with the human condition, what good would science or medicine be? God teaches us lessons about the universe through the difficulties of our lives on earth.
4. Our Catholic moral codes and traditions are not meant to be patronizing, but rather based on sound logical reasoning that reflects the Holy life that God has intended for us to live. These morals are universal such that anyone, regardless of his/her understanding of science or civilization, can appreciate the benefits of a good and orderly society for the benefit of all humanity. Deviation from these morals inevitably results in human suffering and unfulfilled lives. God’s Laws are no different than physical laws in that they are based on logic with clearly defined principles and consequences. For example defying the law of gravity would have similarly disasterous consequences as defying the laws against murder or adultery.

While my answers tend to be longwinded, I do think that these ideas could be introduced to children in 1st grade Cathechism by the following maxims.

Accept and trust in God’s Will.

God loves every living thing, and has a unique plan for everyone no matter how great or small. Over billions of years of time, the differences in our individual lives are negligible as we are all tiny parts of His Divine Will.

God’s Laws are based on His great love for us. Though we may not understand ALL of the reasoning behind them, we must trust in His Goodness and Divine Wisdom.

God is greater than the whole of the universe. The Creator must be greater than Creation in order to create, sustain, and to control His Creation.

From these basic theologic statements we could extend into explaining all of the various traditions and moral codes of the Church in detail so that there is no confusion when our children go off into high school and college. I’ve noted that many young people, myself especially, did not have a solid theological foundation in my critical early adult years. The Catholic Church loses so many young people during this critical time in their lives, and so many of these young people go on to make horrible mistakes in their lives that leave them broken and confused as adults.

I would love to see a renewal of the teaching of the Catechism to focus on these essential theological questions and to prepare our young people for the world ahead of them.

I’d love to hear your suggestions.

 

[TimothyH]

I know plenty of people who have a very simple faith.

They don’t need the answers to questions about logical reasoning and the purposes of various moral codes. They pray the rosary nightly, go to daily Mass and weekly adoration, don’t take drugs, don’t curse, have stayed faithful to their spouses, give generously of their time and treasure, and are well on their way to heaven without every having considered questions about science or civilization or the similarity between moral and physical laws.

Accept and trust in God’s Will.

That is the basis for their faith, and all the theology in the world adds nothing to that. For some, theology is best left to the theologians.

-Tim-

 

[Matt_Tiza]

I know plenty of people who have a very simple faith.

They don’t need the answers to questions about logical reasoning and the purposes of various moral codes. They pray the rosary nightly, go to daily Mass and weekly adoration, don’t take drugs, don’t curse, have stayed faithful to their spouses, give generously of their time and treasure, and are well on their way to heaven without every having considered questions about science or civilization or the similarity between moral and physical laws.

That is the basis for their faith, and all the theology in the world adds nothing to that. For some, theology is best left to the theologians.

-Tim-

I agree about living a simple and prayerful life, Tim.

However we live in a complex modern world where intelligent people question everything. We are surrounded by conflicting influences at all levels of life.

As Catholics, Christ’s evangelists to the world, we are obligated by Him to provide the message of salvation and answers to any and all questions regarding Faith and life.

It would be awesome if everyone led the idyllic life that you described, but the truth is that most people do not. As Christ came to the world to show us the way to salvation, so too must we enlighten the world with His message.

 

[Nabooru]

Christianity is a cultural thing now. It’s gotten so watered down that nobody evangelizes anymore, for fear of causing offense and appearing to not believe in universalism. Some Christians even seem apologetic for being Christian; they pander and kowtow to other faiths and ask for no understanding of their own in return.

Under these circumstances, is it any wonder that proper catechesis is lacking? Whatever is given just presents Christianity as one faith among others, and that “this is our special way of worshiping God.” No one sees their faith as anything special or unique, so why bother studying it?

 

[fhansen]

One of the observations that I’ve made time and time again is that many people across all Christian faiths seem to lack a basic understanding of theology.

Faith is a journey, and it is important to start out with the right footing lest we fall astray from the path that our Lord has prepared for us. This is so important in Catechesis and in the formation of all Christian faiths, yet somehow we seem to lose sight of the basics. As Christians it is easy to get involved in the variety of Bible studies, Christian seminars, and social issues of the day, yet how do we address such complex topics without the fundamentals of theology?

In my observations there are a few basic theological questions that many Christians cannot seem to answer satisfactorily or even subconsciously put into practice in their daily lives.

Who is God?

What is the purpose of our lives in our particular time and space?

Why do bad things happen to good people? or Why do people get sick or injured and die, particularly young people?

What is the logical reasoning behind the various moral codes of Christianity (e.g. the Ten Commandments, precepts, Church traditions)?

These seem like questions that must be addressed and answered within the first year of Christian formation. How else can we expect our young people to make sense out of the complex lives that we lead in our changing world?

I know that I walked through the first part of my life without good answers to these questions. Admittedly my own Catechesis was very weak, and I only learned through the hard lessons of life. This does not have to be so for our children. The consequences of these hard lessons are often permanent and result in many broken spirits and empty lives.

In short it seems like Christian cultures do not understand God or even trust in His Divine Will.

Is this a fair statement?

What are your thoughts on theological deficiency in Christian cultures?

We all have to learn the hard way in life-that’s what this life, this exile from God is for, in fact. We don’t find God until we begin to hunger and thirst for truth-for Him-and begin seeking on our own. Our religious education is really just preparation for that journey, IMO, seeds planted that may or may not sprout and grow depending on our response at some point in our lives. Good catechesis is important and we have room for improvement but it’s no guarantee that hearts will be changed.

 

[Matt_Tiza]

Christianity is a cultural thing now. It’s gotten so watered down that nobody evangelizes anymore, for fear of causing offense and appearing to not believe in universalism. Some Christians even seem apologetic for being Christian; they pander and kowtow to other faiths and ask for no understanding of their own in return.

Under these circumstances, is it any wonder that proper catechesis is lacking? Whatever is given just presents Christianity as one faith among others, and that “this is our special way of worshiping God.” No one sees their faith as anything special or unique, so why bother studying it?

I couldn’t agree more. Our Lord said it best in Matthew 10:32-40

Every one therefore that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. But he that shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to send peace upon earth: I came not to send peace, but the sword. For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s enemies shall be they of his own household. He that loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that takes not up his cross, and follows me, is not worthy of me. He that finds his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for me, shall find it. He that receives you, receives me: and he that receives me, receives him that sent me.

I don’t think that anyone can argue with our Lord’s call to evangelism. We must always proclaim His Gospel all of the days of our lives. As He said, to deny Him is to deny our own Salvation through Him.

We fight not with violence, but with the Truth of His Gospel. We cannot back down from It for any amount of political correctness or compromise.

If we truly believe that He is the Living Word of God, we will live each day of our lives reflecting that Message to the world.