Traditional Roman Catholic Dogma

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Traditional Roman Catholic Dogma
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Outline of Presentation

• Major Beliefs
• Following the Beliefs to achieve salvation
• Major contributions to establishing The Church
• Roman connections to Christian practice
• Christian connection to other religions

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Major Beliefs
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Belief 1 Monotheism
God

• There is only ONE God
• This single deity created everything

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Belief 2 Jesus as Messiah

• Jesus is born of God
• Virgin birth
• Became man
• Crucified by Pontius Pilate (Roman governor of
  Judea 26-36 CE)
• Suffered, died and buried
• Rose from the dead (resurrected)
• Jesus through the crucifixion and resurrection
  allows for sins to be forgiven

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Belief 3 Holy Spirit

• Non-physical element that connects humans and the
  divine
• Usually depicted as a dove

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Belief 4Prophets have the word of God

• Word of God is outlined in Bible (written by the
  prophets)
• Bible includes Old Testament (Torah), and New
  Testament
• Focused more on New Testament
• Bible is interpreted by priests only
• For some time believers are not supposed to read
  Bible directly

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Belief 5 The Church

• Catholicism has a political hierarchy
• Final authority rests with the pope in Rome

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Belief 6 Baptism

• Everyone is born with original sin
• Original sin (Eve and the apple)
• Baptism (infant) eliminates original sin
• Human nature is weak and sinful (often feel
  guilt)
• Humans are tempted to sin by the Devil

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Belief 7 Emphasis on Afterlife

• Ultimate goal of a Catholic is salvation
• Purpose of Earthly life is to prepare for
  afterlife
• The extent that a Catholic serves God in
  earthly life determines experience in afterlife

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Following the Beliefs to achieve Salvation
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Following the Beliefs to achieve Salvation
Options in the Afterlife
Purgatory
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Following the Beliefs to achieve Salvation

• Be a member and do not outwardly question the
  teachings
• Publicly going against the teachings means that
  you commit heresy, and are a heretic
• The crime of heresy can result in death (burned
  at the stake)

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Following the Beliefs to achieve Salvation

• Do Good Works especially those as outlined in the
  Seven Sacraments
• Baptism, Penance (Reconciliation), Eucharist
  (Communion), Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders,
  Anointing of the Sick
• Can perform other good works of pilgrimage,
  doing good things, monetary contributions to the
  church (becomes problematic later with
  indulgences)

Indulgences
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Major contributions to establishing The Church
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Major contributions to establishing The Church

• Foundations in Jewish tradition and scripture
• Missionaries and martyrs especially St. Peter
  and St. Paul
• Spread the word, get followers
• Council of Nicea 325 CE
• Enumerates the beliefs in part one of this PPT
• Constantine (306-337 CE)
• Made Christianity the religion of the state (west
  only 1/5 Christian, and east ½ Christian)
• Great Schism 1054 CE
• Separates Roman Catholic (Rome) officially from
  Eastern Orthodox (Constantinople)

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Roman connections to Christian practice
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Roman connections to Christian practice

• Latin is the original language of the Christian
  Church
• Crucifixion and Cross
• Some Christian holidays overlap with traditions
  and dates of Roman holidays
• Some Roman tendencies help to promote
  Christianity
• Romans were accepting of a central authority in
  the Church and Pope they were used to it with
  the Emperor, Senate and Rome
• Romans were accepting of a single God and messiah
  because they were used to worshiping
  extraordinary individuals like the emperors

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Christian connection to other religions
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