From Revelation To Reverence – An Essay On The Development Of Doctrine

Last updated on: January 15, 2023 at 9:44 am By David Schloss

Catholicism asserts that not only does God exist, but that He has revealed Himself within the stream of human history. Divine revelation provides the basis for Catholic doctrine. But what exactly is the relationship between revelation and doctrine? In what way, if any, do revelation and doctrine affect how Catholics worship? In this paper, I will suggest that revelation acts upon and excites human reason, which in turn develops the doctrines that become the foundation of Catholic worship. Revelation The... Read more

The Indwelling Of God

Last updated on: January 8, 2023 at 9:51 am By David Schloss

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“I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them.” – Ezekiel 36:27. In a sense, to be a Catholic is to experience the indwelling of God. But what exactly does the indwelling of God mean? How can one know if one is in such a state? In this paper, I will endeavor to explore this somewhat mysterious act of God. I will begin by furnishing an explanation of the... Read more

Does Time And Place Influence The Gospels?

Last updated on: January 1, 2023 at 9:31 am By David Schloss

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Is the biblical message influenced or even changed based on the milieu in which it is disseminated? Said differently, does the message of the Bible change based on when and where it is read? In this article, I will discuss whether the message of the Bible – specifically, the Gospels – is influenced by history and culture. I should specify what I mean by the biblical message. The Bible is a set of seventy-three books. Some books are historical or... Read more

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

Jude urges believers to contend for what?