From Debate to Doctrine
At the very start of Christianity, preachers and apologists did not have the luxury of a catechism to find authoritative statements on the new Christian belief. To get a sense of how early Christians tried to explain what they believed, historians and theologians turn to how they prayed, especially by looking at creeds and other theological statements that came out of the first general councils. Along with Scripture, these authoritative teachings of the councils, combined with papal pronouncements and theological statements, were the building blocks of what we call the Church’s tradition.
Catholicism in Context: This newsletter is also part of Catholic Update’s Catholicism in Context series, which strives to answer basic questions about what we (as Catholics) believe, and why we believe it.
| Series | Catholic Update Newsletter |
|---|---|
| Publish Date | 08/01/2025 |
| Pages or Item Count | 4 |
| Size | 8.5 x 11 |
| Weight | 0.02 |
| Discount Category | Newsletter |
| Product Code | C2508A |
Christopher M. Bellitto, PhD, is a medievalist, a Church historian, and professor of history at Kean University in Union, NJ, where he teaches courses in ancient and medieval history. He is also a frequent public speaker and media commentator on Church history and contemporary Catholicism.
Bellitto has written a variety of publications, including The Living Church and Church History 101 from Liguori Publications. He also offers professional development workshops on working with the media, publishing, writing outreach articles and essays, and speaking to a wide range of audiences.