Spiral Dynamics: The Baltimore Catechism Was a Great Idea

(Original Post  Date circa August 2010)

(You should know I spent all of 1/2 hour looking this up; so don't take my word for anything.)

A lot of folks who went to Catholic School before the Second Vatican Council learned their religious principles from "The Baltimore Catechism." (http://www.catholicity.com/baltimore-catechism/)  The version that was in use as late as the 50's and 60's was the 1941 Revised Edition.

According to Wikipedia the American bishops, starting in 1829, wanted an updated catechism to help instruct the faithful in America. They thought it should be based on the "Christian Doctrine as explained in Cardinal Bellarmine's Catechism (1597)."

Now, in 1597 the world was not the friendliest place, what with all the pillaging, infant mortality, brutal conflict resolution methods and harsh vagaries of the weather (http://www.answers.com/topic/1597).  Here's one way of describing those times:

Basic theme:

• Be what you are and do what you want, regardless. 

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

• The world is a jungle full of threats and predators
• Break free from any domination or constraint to please self as self desires
• Stand tall, expect attention, demand respect, and call the shots
• Enjoy self to the fullest right now without guilt or remorse
• Conquer, out-fox, and dominate other aggressive characters

This is why I now think the Baltimore Catechism was a great idea at first.  The Theme and Beliefs listed above are from the book, Spiral Dynamics by Don Beck and Chris Cowen (http://tinyurl.com/37tb3pk).  They describe the so-called Red Zone on a spiral of human evolving.

The idea of Spiral Dynamics is that current life conditions yield certain problems and that in solving those problems, a person or society is led to a new stage of development with new life conditions.  In other words, to solve the problems of violence and thievery, it would be necessary to change the thinking and "rules of behavior" to make order, and perhaps meaning or purpose.  I mean, really, how much meaning could one get out of, first you're born and then (if you and your mom live) you work hard and then you die -- and that's all there is.

So the Catechism sets forth a hierarchical framework and authority and in the process brings order along with tempering the very actions that have led to so much suffering.  Here are a few examples:

First, God is declared the creator of heaven, earth and all things.  Man (sic) is created in God's image and likeness with a body and soul, to “know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven."  (We have to wait.)

And then there is Q&A about Adam and Eve, our relationship to an all-seeing God, the source of authority for these teachings, and then perhaps to quell the violence, the everlasting risk to our souls and the sources of sin.  "The chief sources of sin are seven: Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Anger, Gluttony, Envy, and Sloth; and they are commonly called capital sins."

I know this is flippant, but it seems to me, that the chief sources of sin are wanting something for yourself and taking a break!   Yes, they already had the 10 Commandments, but with all the murder, madness and mayhem, this was a brilliant way to bring order: establish supreme authority, give purpose to tough living conditions and make them more acceptable, shift individual every-man-for-himself thinking to the group hierarchy through fear for your immortal soul, and put all this in a Q&A format that could be memorized and recited over and over again.

I don't know that the life conditions in the U.S. in the 20th Century need this Catechism, but I think the new life conditions engendered by living with these rules set up the need for..... drum roll please....  Entrepreneurism! The next stage in Spiral Dynamics!