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Intro | Truths |
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Truths of the Faith
Beliefs and Doctrine, Salvation History, Sacraments, Moral Teaching, Apologetics, Worldview
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Overview
The Truths of the Faith study program covers the essential points of a traditional High School level religion courses. Most questions are based on Fr. John Laux's four volume Course in Religion or the Baltimore Catechism. The essential areas of Catholic teaching covered are:
- Creation and Salvation History
- The Sacraments
- Moral Teaching
- Apologetics
Much of the material covered may be familiar to students who have studied elementary catechism but the Truths of the Faith program is based on high school texts and may be of interest to adult converts as well as Catholic teens. Study materials cover fundamental teachings of the Church but also discuss advanced topics such as natural law, Christology, moral theology, proofs of God, and non-Christian worldviews.
The multiple-choice format is somewhat limiting for advanced topics so we recommend readings from the Fr. Laux series for a deeper discussion of Catholic doctrines. However, the quiz game covers terms and concepts presented in upper level religion classes and helps with retention. Anyone who has taken a college prep level religion course or studied advanced catechism will find it to be an excellent review.
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Subtopics and Study Aids
The Truths of the Faith program is divided into eight subtopics. All question banks, study aids, and review questions are organized along the same divisions.
| Truths of the Faith — Study Aids |
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Links to Study Aids that summarize the material needed to prepare for the Truths of the Faith quiz game are listed below. The Information Pages associated with each subtopic are also included in the Catholic Knowledge app.
- Creation and Fall — Attributes of God, Creation, Angels and Demons, Ends of Man, Fall of Man, Last Things, etc.
- Grace and Redemption — Immaculate Conception, Incarnation, Trinity, Grace, Sanctification, Redemption, Creed, etc.
- Sacraments of Initiation — Sacraments in General, Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc.
- Other Sacraments — Penance, Indulgences, Extreme Unction, Matrimony, Holy Orders , etc.
- Moral Teaching - General — Law, Conscience, Freewill, Moral Good, Moral Evil, Virtues, Perfections, etc.
- Moral Teaching - Special — Commandments, Cardinal Sins, Types of Sin, Duties to God, Self, and Neighbors, etc.
- Introduction to Apologetics — Logic, Apologetics, Proofs of God, Ends of Man, Revelation, Sources of Knowledge, etc.
- Apologetics and Worldview — Claims of Christ, Claims, Marks of the Church, Primacy of Rome, Alternate worldviews, etc.
| Truths of the Faith — Review Questions |
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The Truths of the Faith program includes about 800 study questions divided among eight units. The printable worksheets listed below each consist of sample questions. Answering written questions while playing the quiz game can help students reinforce their knowledge.
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Recommended Reading
Fr. John Laux's, four volume Course in Religion series is the primary source for the Truth of the Faith program. It is an exceptionally good, widely used series appropriate for both classroom and individual study. However, all of the facts presented in the Truths of the Faith program are consistent with the current Catechism and any good high school religion program will cover similar material. Links to TAN Books, the publisher of the series, are provided below.
| Fr. Laux High School Religion Series |
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Chief Truths of the Faith
This concise overview of the major tenets of the Catholic faith is an excellent introduction for
beginners as well as a stimulating read for educated Catholics. Fr. Laux provides in-depth explanations
of topics including: Sources of Faith, Attributes of God, Human Nature,
the Immaculate Conception, Sanctifying Grace, the General judgment, and many more.
Mass and the Sacraments
The doctrine and history of the 7 Sacraments. Also covers Indulgences and Sacramentals. Topics include the Scriptural
background of the Sacraments, their institution by Christ, essential requirements for receiving them, their effects
in the soul, etc. Will deepen understanding of these seven lifelines of grace and salvation.
Catholic Morality
A brief but complete book on traditional Catholic morality. Covers every basic aspect—the
purpose of life, free will, the Natural Law, positive divine law, human positive laws, elements of a moral act,
virtues, Christian perfections, Evangelical Counsels, nature of sin, kinds of sin, duties toward God, ourselves,
our neighbor, the family, state, Church, etc.
Catholic Apologetics
In this compact book, Fr John Laux gives both the student and the adult reader
dozens of excellent, well-reasoned answers to the classic objections against
the Catholic Faith. He covers all the fundamental truths of the Faith, providing
both facts and sound logical reasoning for every question he considers.
| Public Domain E-Books |
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Much of the material for the 'Truths of the Faith' program can be found in the Baltimore Catechism or the Compendium of the Catholic Catechism. Both are in the public domain. Click on the book title to read online.
Baltimore Catechism: No 3
This was the official national catechism for children in the United States for over 100 years.
Volume 3 is suitable for high schoolers who have received their confirmation.
It reviews material from elementary versions, but includes additional questions, definitions,
examples, and applications.
Baltimore Catechism: No 4
This version of the Baltimore Catechism can be used as a reference work, or as a
teacher's manual for the original Catechism. Its explanations of many little known questions
pertaining to the Catholic Faith are designed to reward the questioning reader.
Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church
This Compendium is a summary of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church developed under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger,
then head of the CDF. The Compendium is organized into the same divisions
as the 1992 Catechism but the Question/Answer format is more appropriate for high school level
study.
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Websites and Videos
The following website and video selections were selected because they are engaging, educational, and free resources that pertain to topics covered in the Truths and Faiths program. This is not a complete list of Catholic online resources, only a few specific suggestions.
| Sophia Press |
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The Sophia Press Sacrament Video Series is visually engaging and covers 'technical' aspects of the sacraments, such as form and matter, effects, valid ministers, that are necessary for answering the Sacraments Review Questions. Each video is approximately six minutes.
- Sophia Sketchpad: Baptism
- Sophia Sketchpad: Confirmation
- Sophia Sketchpad: Eucharist
- Sophia Sketchpad: Marriage
- Sophia Sketchpad: Confession
- 1-2-3 Catholic: Seven Sacraments — This ten minute video from 1-2-3 Catholic features a talented group of school children and covers the most important facts about all seven sacraments.
| Catholic Church - Builder of Civilization |
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Two very worthwhile videos for the Moral Teaching division are from Thomas Wood's Catholic Church - Builder of Civilization series.
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Catholic Church — Builder of Civilization: Western Morality (30 minutes)
This discusses Catholic morality, not in terms of natural law, but rather in the positive effects it has had in civilizing Western Culture. It shows how concepts of natural rights, lifetime marriage, the sanctity of life, the inherent dignity of all human life, Christian charity and the commandments transformed pagan culture. -
Catholic Church — Builder of Civilization: Charity (30 minutes)
This video is from the same series, but focuses on the manner in which Christian Charity transformed Western Civilization. It covers many topics other than monks, but it does emphasize the role that monasteries played in offering services such as inns, schools, hospitals, libraries, alms, and spiritual care for people of the middle ages.
| Other Catholic Websites |
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There a number of other excellent Youtube channels and websites that cover basic Catholic doctrine and morality. Many provide free podcasts, blogs, or videos on a variety of Catholic subjects and others sell books and classes. A few well-known Catholic websites that provide resources relevant to the Truths of the Faith unit include: Sophia Institute Press, Ascension Press, Word on Fire Institute, St. Paul's Center, Ignatius Press, and the Augustine Institute.