Catechesis seems to be, in my experience, telling us what to believe. Q&A formats even in modern catechisms seem to attempt to make doctrine “easier” or at least easier to comprehend/understand. Of course this is part of the teaching role of the church, but I wonder how we can catechize through practices instead. Looking forward to part 3!
Reading C.S. Lewis, especially the Abolition of Man, helps me to understand the point(s) you are trying to make. (He calls the "soul" the chest.) The mind is "where" we learn; the heart is the "body" process--the "how" of what we have learned. When the mind and the "body" are in alignment, the soul is transformed--the "why" of what we have learned. We can also think of this as preparing with the mind, doing with the body, and being with our soul.
We can also "see" this in a great violinist. The notes are learned with the mind; the hands play the instrument; the soul brings forth the music. What comes first? The soul cannot bring forth the music until the proper notes and the proper playing is learned. Yes, some seem to have an innate ability to play the violin, but it is always learning. This comes through acquisition of correct information, through the experience of playing, and through silence in the presence of the music (and the presence in the silence of the music). It begins within the individual but is learned in community. The American "church" for the most part focuses only on the mind and this is a very individualistic learning process. The "church" must return to the individual within community to properly reflect God.
Catechesis seems to be, in my experience, telling us what to believe. Q&A formats even in modern catechisms seem to attempt to make doctrine “easier” or at least easier to comprehend/understand. Of course this is part of the teaching role of the church, but I wonder how we can catechize through practices instead. Looking forward to part 3!
Reading C.S. Lewis, especially the Abolition of Man, helps me to understand the point(s) you are trying to make. (He calls the "soul" the chest.) The mind is "where" we learn; the heart is the "body" process--the "how" of what we have learned. When the mind and the "body" are in alignment, the soul is transformed--the "why" of what we have learned. We can also think of this as preparing with the mind, doing with the body, and being with our soul.
We can also "see" this in a great violinist. The notes are learned with the mind; the hands play the instrument; the soul brings forth the music. What comes first? The soul cannot bring forth the music until the proper notes and the proper playing is learned. Yes, some seem to have an innate ability to play the violin, but it is always learning. This comes through acquisition of correct information, through the experience of playing, and through silence in the presence of the music (and the presence in the silence of the music). It begins within the individual but is learned in community. The American "church" for the most part focuses only on the mind and this is a very individualistic learning process. The "church" must return to the individual within community to properly reflect God.