Church Catechisms

The Catechism Lesson by Jules-Alexis Meunier.

       What is a Catechism? A Catechism is an elementary book containing a summery of principles in any science or art, but particularly in religion, reduced to the form of questions and answers. The first regular catechisms appear to have been compiled in the eighth and ninth centuries, those by Kero of Saint Gall and Otfried of Weisenburg being most famous. Among protestants the catechisms of Luther (1518, 1520 and 1529) acquired great celebrity and continue to be used wherever Lutherans still live. The catechism of the Church of England in the first book of Edward VI, March 7, 1549, contained merely the baptismal vow, the creed, the ten commandments and the Lord's prayer, with explanations. The part relative to the sacraments was added at the revision of the liturgy, during the reign of James I. The catechism of the Church of Scotland is that agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, with the assistance of commissioners from the Church of Scotland and approved of by the General Assembly in the year 1648. What is called the Shorter Catechism is merely an abridgement of the Larger and is the one in most common use.
       Parents may wish to visit those websites online that teach their own church's version of the Christian or Jewish Catechism to incorporate into doll play. It is not our intent to draw children apart from the beliefs of their parents here, moreover it is to encourage parents to integrate their family's faith into the doll play of their children. That being said, catechisms are very much the same from one Christian group to another.

• More About Christian Catechisms
• Teach Luther's Catechism
• Teach The Geneva Catechism
• Teach The Heidelberg Catechism
• Teach The Church of England Catechism
• Teach The Westminster Catechisms
• Teach the Wesleyan Methodist Catechisms (pdf)
• Teach The Church of Rome Tridentine Catechism
• The Baptist Catechism (Keach's Catechism) pdf
• Charles Spurgeon's Catechism with Scripture Proofs (pdf)
• Best Catechism Resources for Families
• Catechism For Jewish Children

Our Talks With Kids About The Basic Christian Beliefs: The Apostles' Creed, The Sacraments, The Ten Commandments plus one more... and The Lord's Prayer

• Short Catechism About The Lord's Prayer in Brief by Benjamin Kutz
• General Prayers For Little Children
• Free Children's Hymns for The Christian Home
• The 10 Commandments, Are The Laws of Love!
• Sabbath Morning
• The Noah's Ark by Katherine Pyle 
  

What Is The Apostle's Creed?

• Children Teach..."What is the Apostle's Creed?"
• The Apostle's Creed: Illustrated by Central Church of Christ Amarillo
• Children illustrate The Apostle's Creed

Little Prayers for Children:

• Thanksgiving Prayer by Mary Caroline Merrick - "Dear God, I thank you for each lovely tree..."
  
• Children's Prayer Collection - All in the public domain and some to color as well.

Crafts and Sewing For Religious Doll Observations:

1. My Doll's First Communion - a linking list about the topic
2. Sunday Toys: My Little Pew Baby - a traditional method for making these Sunday dolls
3. Sunday Toys: All By Herself - church quiet book - a retro quite book
4. Nun Doll Dressed in Habits - article and pictures
5. A stained glass window for a doll's church - printable for doll churches and chapels
6. Sunday Toys: Noah's Ark Craft - antique wooden plans for a pull-toy ark and cut out animals too!

Sometimes Dolls Can Help Deliver Sermons!

• American Girl Dolls Create Relationships by Pastor Bill Mitchell

The Religious Architecture Of Dolls:

• Dollhouse Church with Rectory from BENEDOLLS
• Building A Doll Church Diorama by Dauhl House TV
• Cedar Sided Church Doll House
• Church Model by satnam.models
• How to make a church using cardboard by Crazy Ideas
• Model Making of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Klang (Time Lapse) by Chee Wen Yi
• How to make a church with wooden sticks by FoBIRD
• How to make a popsicle stick church by Simple Art