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Catechism Instruction Reshapes Civilization

George Grant blogged a short but interesting history of Christian catechisms.

The Larger and Shorter Catechisms, which, with the Westminster Confession of Faith, became the standard catechisms of the Presbyterian churches throughout the countries of the former British Empire were compiled by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster between 1645 and 1652. The very familiar Shorter Catechism opens with the words, “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

Grant’s concludes insightfully,

Amazingly, this little didactic device became the means by which the very foundations of Western culture were reshaped. As Samuel Johnson asserted, “The little questions and answers of the catechisms afford us a glimpse at the inner framework of the Western view of the world.”

The obvious question that follows is what happens within a civilization when churches reject catechisms and replace them with more entertaining children’s ministries? And, how does a culture change when Christian adults are ignorant of basic biblical doctrine that reveal the nature and attributes of God?

Posted by tim at September 22, 2005 7:03 AM

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