why or why not? re: teaching a catechism

[Jodi-FL]

I'm really interested in both sides of this---if you do or don't teach your kids a catechism, what helped you make your decision? and what catechism do you teach?

[LizzyBee]

I grew up Lutheran, but I changed to a different denomination when I was 18. However, I cannot find another catechism that I like as well as Luther's. The systematic approach to doctrine appeals to my 11 yo, but when we hit things that our family disagrees with, we'll have to either skip them or discuss them.

[DollyM]

For us teaching the catechism was the best investment in their spiritual training that we ever did as a covenant family. We taught the Westminster Children's Catechism (as opposed to the longer and more complicated "Shorter Catechism" ... there's a "Longer" one, too.) We use Starr Meade's book as a starting point in incorporating family devotions into the catechsim drills. (I think the book is "Teaching Hearts Training Minds" - something like that ... I've loaned out my copy or I'd double check it)

This took us several years - and my two kids did it pretty much simultaneously, despite their 3.5 year age difference. So those several years were a precious time of regular family devotions where we were really able to make our kids understand what we believe and why - discussions were as much a part of the process as the memory drills. They were a bit older (especially the older child) when we did this - I know many families start in K but we really didn't start until the older child was in 4th and the younger brother in 1st. The investment in this project was the single most important thing we did as a homeschool family.

After we finished the "Children's" as a group, my son decided to tackle memorizing the "Shorter" on his own. He's bogged down on that over the years, but he still gets back to it on his own timing - no pressure from me - the "Shorter" is hardly short and the wording is difficult. Sometimes we diagram the sentences LOL. They are complex.

[Julie in CA]

Our denomination (RCUS) requires all of the kids to memorize the Heidelberg Catechism. Truthfully, I'm not thrilled. I want the kids to learn from the catechism as a teaching tool, but I'd rather they memorize actual Scripture. It takes most of the kids four years to master the memorization, and they do a *ton* of learning both of systematic theology and church history. At the end of that process the kids write an essay, do an interview before the church consistory, and then they are eligible to make a public profession of faith and take communion. I dislike the process, and feel that it is a misuse of the catechism to tie the memorization to communal membership, but I do love the amount of knowledge my kids have gained from their study. I have two ds's working on memorization right now. One of them will breeze through it, and one of them will never make it. I'm hoping that the process will still be enriching enough for the learning-disabled son that he won't feel wholeheartedly discouraged by his attempts. Overall, if I had a choice, I'd study the catechism in extremely great depth with my dc, but not have them memorize the words of man over the Word of God. :)
~Julie~

[Baseballmom]

We use the Westminster Shorter Catechism. They actually really enjoy it. I know that they don't understand all of the doctrine now, but later they will be able to defend why they believe what they believe. I think it is important to memorize the scriptures that back up each answer as well.

HTH,

[Sebastian (a lady)]

We taught the Westminster Children's Catechism (as opposed to the longer and more complicated "Shorter Catechism" ... there's a "Longer" one, too.)

We've used this off and on too. I have one that I was able to find online. To be honest, it has clarified some things in my own mind.

One day, my five year old told me that he wished he were God. I used my sweetest voice to ask him why (looking for the source of this heresy, :)) He gave me his big eyed look and said, "So I could do all my holy will."

(Well, really, who doesn't want that at some level.)

[Tutor]

We are teaching our children the Westminster Shorter Catechism via Training Hearts, Teaching Minds (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTraining-Hearts-Teaching-Minds-Devotions%2Fdp%2F0875523927%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbook s%26qid%3D1201841976%26sr%3D8-1&tag=apollosacadem-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) and reading Scripture proofs alongside. It is a good summary of our faith and serves as a good introduction to our children of basic Scriptural principles in easily digestible chunks. Our pastor also teaches a 15 minute catechism class before Sunday School each week to all the children up to high school using the Children's Catechism.

[Sunny]

We started teaching the children's Westminster when the children were 5yo or so. It is easy and basic. Our church is teaching junior high the heidelburg, so one son is now learning it. He is not memorizing it, simply learning it. I like the catechism. It is a great way to tie all the bible learning together, and hang those verses on a peg.

[Tressa]

My son is working through Luther's Small Catechism. We are Lutheran, so it is required. Our pastor teaches the class, so I don't have to do anything except make sure he is doing his memorization. He is learning so much. We have had some really good discussions around the dinner table lately.

I would probably study the catechism even if it wasn't required. :)

[Philothea]

I teach my children with the Baltimore Catechism, the same one the nuns would use.

I personally think that learning the Catechism, fits in perfectly with the classical method. In the first stage children memorize all the facts with the Baltimore format, so it is pretty much a fact gathering stage. Though the Catechism contiues through 3 books for different ages, it can still be used as a platform for futher study. But I also use nice stories and books about our Faith to teach the children too, as well as masterpieces all along.

After the Catechism is learned, we can add to it with a more indepth study of our religion's history and we would place more emphasis on growth in the spiritual life.

At the last stage, which I would think would be the end of junior high/high school would be the time to study the great spiritual writers, moral theology, philosophy, apologetics etc.

This is just my point of view as a Catholic, I don't really know if it is what you were looking for. We also plan to study Church Latin, my son is almost 5 and DH is teaching him the Latin responses of an altar boy.

[nancypants]

We use the WSC as a discussion helper. My son also copies it for his handwriting work (Classically Cursive) every day. The children memorize the first few when they are quite small but we are not emphasizing memorization of the catechism so much as applying the concepts from scripture that it teaches to our hearts and minds.

I think it can be a help to understanding scripture but I don't want the memorization of it to be an end in itself so this is why we are using it more as a discussion help in our nightly scripture reading.

hth

[Which Jennifer]

We have done the Children's Catechism (Who made you? God. What else did God make? God made all things.) when our boys were younger, but now we are using a shortened version of the Shorter Catechism which I absolutely love. Instead of learning completely different questions and answers, they hear the exact same questions as the Shorter Catechism, i.e. "What is the chief end of man?", but the answers that are long and involved are pared down, using the same words of the Shorter Catechism whenever possible, and the answers that are simple enough are kept the same. This version was put together by an elder in our church, and it just makes so much sense for young kids to go through.

As to learning man's words over God's, I can sympathize, but I would encourage any person who is struggling with this to realize that the catechism builds a logical framework for the theology of the entire Bible. Children who have memorized the catechism (Heidelberg, Westminster, etc) tend to be better able to think logically and systematically about everything. It helps children compartmentalize what they learn.

For instance, a friend who viewed one of the Abeka video lessons reported that the teacher asked "What is sin?," and the children answered "bad things," "murder," "hitting my sister" and such like. Obviously none of those children had memorized the WSC, which clearly states that "sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God."

The Westminster Shorter Catechism includes the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer, and those are broken down bit by bit and explained in the questions. I'm finding it very helpful, and it is not overwhelming.

I would never advocate learning man's words exclusively, however. I just announced to my almost 10-year old today that he would soon begin his first big memorizing project. Along with about 1 question a week of the Shorter Catechism, he will have the choice of memorizing Philippians or Colossians.

Blessings to you.

[Alice]

My church has a 3 yr rotation for Sunday School. I teach the 2-4 yr old class and have a 4 yr old class and think it has been really good for all the kids. We use Great Commission Publications material which uses Bible stories along with the catechism. The 4 yr olds get really into it and can totally do all the questions. The 2 yr olds know "Who made you?" "God" and "Where is God?"
"Everywhere".

I have the book "Big Truths for Little Kids" by Susan Hunt but it was a little too wordy for my guy. I do know a lot of the parents of older kids have used it and really like it.