Theological Examination

Answer honestly. We can sense hesitation.

0 of 66 answered

Question 1 Authority & Church

In major doctrinal disputes, Christ intended the Church to have a visible, binding way to settle them (not merely "agree to disagree").

Question 2 Baptism

Baptism is ordinarily God's action, not mainly our public testimony.

Question 3 Ecclesiology

The "true Church" is not mainly invisible; it's meant to be a visible communion with recognizable boundaries.

Question 4 Baptism

Infant baptism is not merely permitted; it's a fitting, normal practice because God can give grace before a child can explain faith.

Question 5 Liturgy & Worship

Weekly (or very frequent) communion is closer to historic Christianity than occasional communion.

Question 6 Authority & Church

An ecumenical council can make decisions that are binding for the whole Church.

Question 7 Eucharist

In the Eucharist, Christ is present in a way that is objective, not dependent on the recipient's faith or mood.

Question 8 Tradition & Authority

It's normal for the Church to have binding doctrines that are not stated explicitly word-for-word in Scripture, as long as they're consistent with it.

Question 9 Liturgy & Worship

In Christian worship, the central act is not the sermon but word + sacrament (especially the Eucharist).

Question 10 Baptism

Baptism ordinarily washes away sins (not just symbolizes forgiveness).

Question 11 Eucharist

Calling communion "just a symbol" is inadequate; it's a real participation in Christ, not mere remembrance.

Question 12 Soteriology

"Once saved always saved" is not the best framing; a baptized and truly saved Christian can still fall away through grave sin or apostasy.

Question 13 Mary & Christology

Mary is rightly called Mother of God (meaning: mother of the incarnate Son, who is God).

Question 14 Natural Theology

It is possible to deduce God's existence by natural reason alone, apart from divine revelation (though revelation helps).

Question 15 Ecclesiology

Doctrinal unity is supposed to be structural (communion under shared oversight), not only "spiritual unity" across independent groups.

Question 16 Authority & Church

It's a serious problem if the Church can't identify any worldwide, authoritative voice that can say, "This is Christian teaching."

Question 17 Authority & Church

Apostolic succession (bishops standing in continuity with the apostles) is not just nice history; it's essential to the Church's structure.

Question 18 Authority & Church

A bishop is not merely a senior pastor; episcopal authority is a distinct office instituted for the Church.

Question 19 Ministry & Orders

A distinct ministerial priesthood (not merely "everyone is equally a priest") is part of the Church's intended order.

Question 20 Sacraments

Christian rites like confirmation/chrismation, ordination, marriage, anointing of the sick, etc., are not merely ceremonies; they are channels of grace in a strong sense.

Question 21 Liturgy & Tradition

The Church's liturgical worship (public prayers, calendar, forms) is a legitimate source of doctrine: *how the Church prays shapes what she believes.*

Question 22 Tradition & Authority

A Christian can be obligated to accept a doctrine because the historic Church taught it consistently, even if it's unpopular today.

Question 23 Penance

After serious sin, some form of penitential restoration is appropriate (not just "I'm forgiven, so nothing remains to be healed").

Question 24 Discipline

The Church has authority to require certain penitential practices (fasting, abstinence, etc.) as part of spiritual formation.

Question 25 Saints

Honoring saints with feasts, hymns, and veneration is good and healthy (distinct from worship owed to God).

Question 26 Devotions

Using icons or statues in worship spaces can be fitting; physical images can serve devotion without becoming idols.

Question 27 Mary

Mary should have a special place in Christian devotion beyond simply "Jesus' mother."

Question 28 Tradition & Authority

"Sacred Tradition" is not merely human custom; it is a reliable carrier of apostolic teaching alongside Scripture.

Question 29 Authority & Church

It's possible for the Church to settle a disputed question in a way that produces a new level of clarity that Christians are then obligated to accept.

Question 30 Scripture & Authority

The Church had real authority to recognize the canon of Scripture in a way that is binding, not just an informal historical consensus.

Question 31 Eucharist

The Eucharist is not only a meal; it is also, in some real sense, a sacrifice made present (without re-crucifying Christ).

Question 32 Confession

Private confession directly to God is not the usual norm; Christians should also confess sins aloud to an ordained minister.

Question 33 Confession

A minister can pronounce absolution that is more than reassurance; it's a real act the Church has authority to do.

Question 34 Saints

It is normal to ask departed holy Christians to pray for you, as members of the same Church.

Question 35 Prayer for the Dead

Praying for the dead is a normal Christian act, not merely a personal opinion.

Question 36 Devotions

Relics (physical remains or objects associated with saints) can be honored in a reverent way.

Question 37 Mary

Mary remained ever-virgin (before, during, and after Jesus' birth).

Question 38 Mary

Mary is the highest saint and uniquely holy in a way not true of other saints.

Question 39 Eucharist

In the Eucharist, the bread and wine become Christ in a way that involves a real change, not just a change in meaning or use.

Question 40 Scripture

Books like Tobit, Sirach, Wisdom, Baruch, and 1-2 Maccabees are not merely "useful reading," but deserve to be taken as seriously as the rest of the Bible.

Question 41 Soteriology

Justification is not only God declaring you righteous; it also includes God actually making you righteous inwardly.

Question 42 Eucharist & Orders

A Eucharist celebrated without a validly ordained priest or bishop is not the same thing as the Eucharist Christ instituted, even if the congregation is sincere.

Question 43 Authority & Church

The Church can bind Christians' consciences on some moral questions even when Scripture doesn't spell them out explicitly, because moral truth is knowable and safeguarded by the Church's teaching office.

Question 44 Ministry & Orders

Apostolic succession isn't just ideal; it's normally required for a fully valid sacramental life.

Question 45 Sacraments

There are truly seven sacraments in the Church (in the strong, grace-giving sense).

Question 46 Eucharist

The Church is right to reserve the consecrated Eucharist and treat it as something holy outside the moment of receiving.

Question 47 Authority & Church

Christ intended the Church to have the authority to make definitive dogmatic definitions beyond what any individual can prove by private interpretation.

Question 48 Soteriology

There is a real distinction between mortal sin (which kills grace and requires confession) and venial sin (which weakens but doesn't destroy the soul's relationship with God).

Question 49 Eucharist

Eucharistic adoration (reverently worshiping Christ present in the consecrated elements) is fitting.

Question 50 Penance

Even after sin's guilt is forgiven, temporal punishment may remain, which must be purified either in this life or after death.

Question 51 Soteriology

Good works, done in grace, can be said to "merit" reward—not apart from Christ, but because God crowns his own gifts.

Question 52 Marriage

A valid sacramental marriage cannot be ended by divorce in a way that permits remarriage while the spouse lives.

Question 53 Mary

Mary was taken body and soul into heavenly glory (Assumption) as a doctrine the whole Church should affirm.

Question 54 Scripture

The Bible consists of 73 books in total: 46 books of the Old Testament, and 27 books of the New Testament.

Question 55 Papacy

The bishop of Rome has a unique primacy among bishops that is more than political or honorary.

Question 56 Afterlife

Purgatory (a real post-death purification for many of the saved) is a true doctrine in a fairly concrete sense, not just "God finishes sanctification somehow."

Question 57 Eucharist

It is possible to define Eucharistic change in terms like substance and accidents (i.e., *transubstantiation* captures something important and true).

Question 58 Saints

The saints' merits, united with Christ's, form a treasury of merit that the Church can apply to the faithful.

Question 59 Trinity

The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (Filioque). It is a serious error to believe that it proceeds from the Father alone.

Question 60 Indulgences

The Church can apply Christ's merits to remit temporal consequences of sin in a formal way (often called indulgences).

Question 61 Mary

Mary was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her existence (Immaculate Conception).

Question 62 Papacy

The Pope has universal jurisdiction: real governing authority over the whole Church, not merely a primacy of honor.

Question 63 Authority & Church

There are 21 valid ecumenical councils, from the First Council of Nicaea to the Second Council of the Vatican.

Question 64 Papacy

In rare, defined conditions, the Pope can teach infallibly on faith and morals.

Question 65 Papacy & Ecclesiology

Full visible unity of the Church includes communion with (and submission to) the Bishop of Rome.

Question 66 Papacy

If you had to choose, loyalty to the Pope's final authority is part of what it means to belong fully to the Church.

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