Catholic Teachings
What is Catechism
The official collection of Catholic teachings, which interprets the Bible contextually.
The direct interpretation of the Bible as literal fact.
Literal Interpretation
Textual Criticism
Compares copies and translations of the Bible to find the most accurate wording.
Trusting in God and accepting His truth beyond what reason alone can prove.
Faith
What is Patterned Intelligibility?
The idea that the world is ordered and makes sense, and patterns can be studied and understood through reason.
The largest branch of Christianity that recognizes both the pope's authority and the Bible’s teachings.
Catholicism
What is Contextual Interpretation?
Reading between the lines to understand underlying messages, lessons, or context.
Historical Criticism
Studies the historical situation and context in which a text was written.
Who is Rene Descartes?
A 17th-century philosopher who emphasized doubt and reason, famous for saying, “I think, therefore I am.”
The Catholic Church teaches that this does not conflict with faith.
Science
Transcendence
Going beyond the physical world to connect with God or the divine.
What is Exegesis?
The process of interpreting a text by investigating what it meant for its original audience.
Literary Criticism
Examines the Bible as literature, focusing on style and literary devices.
The basic rule or measurement you use to test something.
Standard
Observing from nature, Aquinas’s first proof for God’s existence focuses on this concept.
Motion
Questioning and testing ideas until there is solid evidence to believe in them.
Scepticism
What is Eisegesis?
Reading one’s own biases or assumptions into a text.
Source Criticism
Identifies whether authors used earlier stories, myths, or writings as sources.
The rule you use to test the first standard, going beyond basic expectations.
Higher Standard
Aquinas’s proof for God’s existence based on the order and purpose seen in the world.
Design
Faith and this “wing” work together to help us discover truth according to Catholic teaching.
Reason
The Bible is divided into these five main genres.
Law, History, Wisdom, Prophecy, and Poetry/Apocalyptic
The differences in time, customs, and language between the Bible and today are called the three gaps.
Historical, Cultural, and Linguistic Gaps
Highest standard
The final authority that cannot be tested by anything higher and must be accepted by faith.
What is Superstition?
Believing in things without reason, like thinking words or rituals work like magic.