Reincarnation

Last updated on: December 25, 2022 at 9:51 am By David Schloss

One of the most unique and prevalent beliefs among the world’s religions is the belief in reincarnation. While the belief in reincarnation exists predominantly in eastern religions and philosophies, belief in it has also branched into the modern secular world. In this paper, I will endeavor to provide an overview of reincarnation and conclude by articulating what Catholicism has to say about this ancient belief. On Reincarnation The earliest recorded teachings on reincarnation appear in the Hindu scriptures circa 800... Read more

Stoicism And Catholicism

Last updated on: December 18, 2022 at 10:35 am By David Schloss

Pope Benedict XVI once remarked that Catholicism is a religion of philosophy. While the Pope’s comments were meant to place Catholicism in opposition to the various pagan practices of the ancient world, it is undeniable that the great western philosophical tradition has influenced Catholicism. One such philosophy that has had its influence on Catholicism is stoicism. In this paper, I will seek to explain what stoicism is and why and how it has affected Catholic thought. An Introduction To Stoicism ... Read more

The Notions Of Divinity

Last updated on: December 11, 2022 at 10:18 am By David Schloss

In seeking to understand the Holy Trinity, Thomas Aquinas identified five properties or notions that are proper to a Divine Person. I will endeavor to explain each of these notions in this paper. In so doing, I hope to add some illumination to the great mystery of the Holy Trinity. Before commencing, a word about definitions. In philosophy, a property is a characteristic that is always present in a subject. For example, rationality is a property of a human being.... Read more

Limbo

Last updated on: December 4, 2022 at 10:01 am By David Schloss

It is a question that we all ask at some point. What happens when we die? Catholic teaching has identified three “destinations” of the soul upon death. They are Heaven, Hell, and Limbo. In this paper, I will discuss the third of these “destinations,” Limbo. It is noteworthy that even within Catholicism, the belief in Limbo is not nearly as widely accepted as the belief in Heaven and Hell. At its core, the issue of Limbo revolves around the question... Read more

On Theology

Last updated on: November 27, 2022 at 9:22 am By David Schloss

By no lesser authority than Thomas Aquinas, theology has been called the queen of the sciences. Why did the angelic doctor think this to be the case, and what exactly is theology? In this paper, I will seek to explore what theology is and the four types of theology common in the Catholic Church. Before commencing, it should be admitted that, in some sense, theology has had to sink to the level of the modern era. For most of human... Read more

The Epistles

Last updated on: November 20, 2022 at 9:42 am By David Schloss

Much has been written about the Gospels, and rightfully so. It is the Gospels that provide the most significant insight into the life and teachings of Christ. However, there is much more to the New Testament. In this paper, I shall like to explore what is known as the Catholic epistles (an epistle is a letter). The epistles are James, Peter, John, and Jude. For each of the epistles, I will examine who the author was, the intended audience, and... Read more

Procession, Appropriation, And The Life Of God

Last updated on: November 13, 2022 at 9:40 am By David Schloss

One need not spend time studying Catholicism before coming across the word mystery. Within theology, a mystery is a truth revealed by God that cannot be rationally conceived. Said differently, it is knowledge that human beings could not obtain without it being revealed by God. One such mystery is the Holy Trinity. In this paper, I will endeavor to shed light on the life of the Trinity by discussing procession and spiration. I will conclude by examining what is known... Read more

Universalism And The Will

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 9:16 am By David Schloss

If God is love, why does He not save everyone? In other words, if God loves human beings, why does He not allow everyone entry into Heaven? In this paper, I will discuss the belief that God does just that. This belief, known as universalism, has a long and checkered history in Christian theology. I will begin by providing an overview of universalism. I will then suggest that universalism and the biblical teaching on salvation are irreconcilable. Finally, I will... Read more

Resurrection

Last updated on: October 30, 2022 at 10:07 am By David Schloss

One of the most well-known and theologically significant statements made by Christ occurs in John 11:25. “I am the resurrection and the life.” While the belief in the resurrection of the dead is central and foundational in Catholicism, Christ’s words have a deeper meaning which ought to be examined. In this paper, I will explore the belief in a resurrection from the dead from a biblical perspective and examine how Jesus’ words should be understood by placing them in a... Read more

Would Your God Consider Himself A Catholic?

Last updated on: October 23, 2022 at 10:17 am By David Schloss

This paper seeks to answer the question, “Is God a Catholic”? It seems possible to pursue this question from one of two points of departure. The first is to address whether God, as a being, is a member of the Catholic Church. The second point from which one can access this question is whether the Catholic Church reflects who God is and what God teaches. Regardless of which point of departure one begins with, it seems prudent to define the... Read more