Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: boatbums; Salvation; NYer; Mr Rogers

If you quote the first sentences alone, many paragraphs that introduce distinct ideas would seem the same.

The difference is in the formality and the centrality of the proposed doctrine. A dogma is a doctrine that is proclaimed to be revealed by God to the Church. It is introduced as such, usually, by an Ecumenical Council, as something that has been believed by the Church everywhere at all times, even before it was proclaimed. It has a formal definition. For example, divinity of Christ is such dogma; in fact, the Creed is a succession of the dogmas of the Church.

A doctrine which is not a dogma usually is less precisely formulated, and refers to a question that not every Christian faces. For example, the use of contraception is not a matter for everyone, cannot be reduced to as simple paragraph (to explain the moral aspect of natural family planning, a related concept, requires several pages usually), and hopefully one day contraception would be looked upon as a barbaric practice that spread in 20c as a side effect of the collapse of the Protestant Reformation, and is now abhorred by all.

All doctrine, dogmatic or otherwise, is necessary for salvation, so the distinction is usually without a difference, especially for a non-Catholic.


147 posted on 02/01/2010 5:30:01 AM PST by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies ]


To: annalex
All doctrine, dogmatic or otherwise, is necessary for salvation, so the distinction is usually without a difference, especially for a non-Catholic.

And it is this last part that contains the gist of what I am trying to say. The Catholic Church says what they consider to be doctrine/dogma is necessary for salvation. You are saying here that in order to be saved (salvation) one must adhere to all the church declares down to the least detail such as contraception? Are you really saying THAT???

152 posted on 02/01/2010 7:29:32 AM PST by boatbums (Pro-woman, pro-child, pro-life!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies ]

To: annalex

Very good explanation. Thanks.


164 posted on 02/01/2010 9:21:30 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson