Westminster Larger Catechism facts for kids
The Westminster Larger Catechism is an important book of questions and answers. It helps people learn about the Christian faith. Many churches, especially those called Calvinists, use it. It is used all around the world. It is often studied with the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Contents
How the Catechism Was Created
In 1643, England's Long Parliament called a special meeting. This meeting was called the Westminster Assembly. Its job was to create new guides for the church. They wanted a book of beliefs called the Westminster Confession. They also asked for a guide for teaching, known as a "catechism."
At first, a person named Herbert Palmer started writing the catechism. But some people, like Robert Baillie from Scotland, were not happy with it. So, in December 1643, a new group was formed. This group was given the task of writing the catechism.
Two Catechisms for Different Needs
By January 1647, the Assembly decided to create two catechisms instead of one. They made the Westminster Shorter Catechism for beginners. It was designed to be easy to read and short. The Larger Catechism was made to be more detailed. It covered more topics in depth.
The Westminster Assembly finished the Larger Catechism in 1647. The Church of Scotland officially accepted it in 1648. Later, in 1788, Presbyterian churches in New York and Philadelphia also adopted it. They made some small changes about how it related to government rules.
Who Uses It Today?
Over time, some churches stopped using the Larger Catechism. For example, the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. stopped using it in 1967. However, many other churches still use it.
Today, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) includes it in their Book of Confessions. More traditional churches also use it. These include the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and the Bible Presbyterian Church.
See also
