KYLE: Confusion over type:Catechism and type:Confessional Document in the library
Why are some catechisms given type: Confessional Document while others are given type: Catechism?
title:Catechism type:"Confessional document"
Thelemann, Otto. An Aid to the Heidelberg Catechism. Translated by M. Peters. Reading, PA: James I. Good, D. D, Publisher, 1896.
de Schweinitz, Edmund, trans. The Catechism of the Bohemian Brethren: Translated from the Old German, with an Introduction. Bethlehem: Henry T. Clauder, 1869.
Spurgeon, C. H. A Catechism, With Proofs. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009.
Newbolt, W. C. E. The Church Catechism: The Christian’s Manual. Edited by W. C. E. Newbolt and Darwell Stone. The Oxford Library of Practical Theology. London; New York; Bombay: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1903.
Heidelberg Catechism. Heidelberg Catechism. Revised Edition. Cleveland, OH: Central Publishing House, 1907.
The Westminster Larger Catechism: With Scripture Proofs. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism: With Scripture Proofs. 3rd edition. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996.
Exported from Verbum, 9:20 PM June 20, 2021.
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Comments
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I cannot see any clear rule as to how Logos tags these - and that is a problem. And yet, while I would say that some documents are both, there is a distinction between Catechisms and Confessional Documents.
Speaking as a Lutheran, Luther's Small and Large Catechisms are both Catechisms and Confessional Documents. But the extended Explanations of the Catechisms that we have historically used are just Catechisms, in that they teach the doctrine of the Church, but do not have authority as Confessional Documents. But since all editions of The Book of Concord do include the Catechisms and are tagged as Confessional Documents, this isn't really a problem...
I am not an expert in Reformed Christianity, but my understanding is that in some ways the Heidelberg and Westminster Catechisms are viewed as Authoritative. Are they confessional? I don't really know for sure.The Heidelberg Catechism is one of the "Three Forms of Unity", but the Presbyterian Church USA does have a separate Book of Catechisms from their Book of Confessions, but I don't know if of how they are viewed differently as doctrinal standards. That said, I doubt that much of anyone views an "Aid to the Heidelberg Catechism" as Confessional.
What about you Roman Catholics? Is the CCC or the old Roman Catechism in any way viewed as having the authority of a Confessional Document? They certainly would be more authoritative than, for example, Fitzmyer's Christological Catechism or Kreeft's Catechism, right? It is somewhat interesting to me that in spite of owning multiple Roman Catholic packages, when I filter my library with type:"Confessional Document", I don't have a single Roman Catholic document.
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What about you Roman Catholics? Is the CCC or the old Roman Catechism in any way viewed as having the authority of a Confessional Document?
The CCC can generally be considered a 'Confessional Document', in the sense of being an authoritative explanation of the Catholic faith that has been promulgated for the use of the entire Church. It is not a confessional document in the sense of being a creed or a confession of faith as such.
It is somewhat interesting to me that in spite of owning multiple Roman Catholic packages, when I filter my library with type:"Confessional Document", I don't have a single Roman Catholic document.
The only Catholic Type:"Confessional Document" resource in my library is the Credo of the People of God by Pope St. Paul VI, in both English and Latin editions.
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