Catholic Social Beliefs

There are many different views in the world on how and why we all came to be and by who’s power. This leads to the formation of many unique religions, who each have developed separate distinguishable views about a personal God or lack thereof. While there may be significant differences between each religion, they also have many similarities. This is true for Quakers and Catholics. Although Quakerism and Catholicism share similar beliefs in the "historical Jesus", Quakers seem more accommodating to today’s religious people when considering current uprising issues, including homosexuality, abortion, and authority of their faith than are Catholics.

Catholicism: A Very Short Introduction written by Gerald O’Collins is a short read that gives an insight to the Catholic church without getting confusing to the reader. It touches on the basics of Catholicism such as the history, practices, and core beliefs. Through each chapter Gerald O’Collins a research professor in the field of Theology at St. Mary’s University College and Twickenham, as well as formally Dean in Gregorian University for the faculty of Theology, shares his knowledge on the Catholic religion one question at a time.

Throughout time an individual’s role in which he fits into society has changed. One of the most noticeable changes in an individual’s role in society occurred during the Italian Renaissance during the 14th and 15th centuries with the introduction of Humanism. Humanism gave birth to the concept of individuality a notion which is still alive today. It said that humans mattered and that now mattered, that one should not be part of a whole but rather someone that is unique. Before Humanism people only thought of the after life, of whether they were going to heaven or hell, but with the introduction of Humanism people became more involved in the present, rather then just thinking of what happened after you died. Humanism transformed

“The church (…) individualism was identical with arrogance, rebellion, and sin”(doc 1). This shows that actions like rebellion and sin relate with individualism, which is just like Humanism. “In true order that mortal man should first care for mortal things”(doc 4). This just shows how important things have meant to people, and to respect person’s property. Humanism brought the idea of civilized people with great ideas into the world. Before the Renaissance, religion was everything, when the Renaissance came, the people were exposed to the arts and

Furthermore, The Protestant Reformation saw a major European movement that challenged the religious practices and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. With the rise of religion attracting many individuals, intellectuals began to challenge religious teachings and expose the corruption of the Church. Rather than offering salvation, the Church became corrupt and stingy for control, power, and money, in which German theologian Martin Luther, highlighted. Luther argued that people only achieve salvation by God through faith alone and criticized the use of indulgences, wealth, corruption, and other religious practices within the Catholic Church in his 95 Theses. For example, one of Luther’s theses says, “Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.” Luther believed papal authorities utilized the people to their own advantage in gaining wealth by fostering beliefs that indulgences relinquished sins. The immorality surrounding the Church made it unfair to people of all social groups who “devoted an enormous amount of their time and income to religious causes and foundations” – only finding themselves fooled into bribery (A History of Western Society 402). Luther’s arguments served a pivotal role in influencing others to fight for their own beliefs and redefine the meaning of religion. The common good of the people and their opinions mattered as Protestant thought grew. In the “big picture” of European

Catholic social teaching (CST) or thought are belief or set of belief that is taught or developed by a catholic church or religious organisations (Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, 2016). It expresses human dignity as a foundation for the common good in our society to flourish together as one (Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, 2016). Therefore, this wiki page will explain and discuss each of nine CST.

There is an ample scope of debate as to whether Mormonism is Christianity or not. It is true that both are similar; however, Protestants and Catholics equally are against the acceptance of Mormons to be Christians. There are many doctrinal similarities between the Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon). Both churches accept Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world and teach that salvation comes through faith in Christ, repentance and baptism. The differences between the two churches revolve around priesthood authority, continuing revelation, the nature of God, the purpose of mortality and eternal marriage as well as methods of baptism. Beyond its shared nature

In this report I will be both contrasting and comparing the religious view of Catholicism and the world view of Secular Humanism. The three questions I will be analysing through the religious view of Catholicism and the world view Secular Humanism include:

Education: noun the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university

The responsibilities of being a catholic in a free society means that I am able to show the way I live in choosing the right choices and doing the right thing. Most Catholic responsibilities are involved in our everyday life. Others are Responsibilities are harder to see. Responsibilities of being a catholic in a free society include being a leader to others, helping people. Also, sharing our faith with others that surround us. Being a catholic is following in the footsteps of Jesus.

The way of life can be broken down into nine principles govern by the Catholic Social Thought (CST), covering all five aspects of humanity. The aspects include; social, spiritual, personal, economic and political, all five create a holistic approach to optimize a sense of humanity for self and the community. The nine principles of CST are as follows:

These principles, commonly referred to as the Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching, can be found in media that highlights social conflicts of many eras. Weather respected or not, several of these social teachings can be observed in the 2011 film, The Help.

The Catholic Social Teaching Principles are a tool to achieve the common good. In the past and in today’s world the common good is short of being what is good for the whole world and has become what is good for a single society. The Cherokee Indians face the common good of the United States’ culture being forced on to them. Due to this they have lost what their culture was about, along with hundreds of lives. We can see how the Catholic Social Teaching Principles a line with their past ways, and how their institutes and society have changed over time in the modern society, while adapting a new meaning to these principles.

A restructuring of religious doctrine, beliefs, and social practices during the 17th and 18th centuries in England, and in North America, infused with Calvinistic religious doctrine initiated the beginning of The Great Awakening. Following this further, according to Christine Leigh Heyrman, The First Great Awakening: Divining America,” a New Age of faith rose to counter the currents of the Age of Enlightenment. Ultimately reaffirming the view that being truly religious meant trusting the heart rather than the head, prizing feeling more than thinking, and relying on biblical revelation rather than human reason. After a while, several religious revivals sprung forth appeasing the colonists in America desire for a deep and significant personal relationship with God. Thus, this dogma spread to other denominations throughout the colonies in America (Heyrman).” As a result, The Great Awakening spread throughout the middle colonies in America by notable revivalist preachers instituting moderate Calvinistic doctrinal theology especially for the Presbyterians and the Congregationalists, and opened the door to unprecedented world societal changes.

The world has more than one billion Catholics and with the ever growing population, it will only get larger in number. To be a Catholic means to have complete faith in God and his divine grace. Having God's divine grace means to obey it and keep it holy as it was created by God and given to his people. The religion itself is based on this and the people take it very seriously. Catholics believe that all people are of good nature but when one commits a sin it not only hurts that one person but the people and the Church.