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<>Few of our brethren are acquainted with theolgy and doctrine per se<>

Why?

<>It is not what we know, it is what we do that matters.<>

Are not right doctrine and right living connected?

"A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well. I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God.

It is my opinion that the Christian conception of God current today [1961] is so decadent as to be utterly beneath the dignity of the Most High God and actually to constitute for professed believers something amounting to a moral calamity ... The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved often of a thousand moral problems."

-- Dr A. W Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

Dear drstevej,

It is one thing to believe in the Real Presence. It is relatively easily grasped by the intellect.

The doctrine of transubstantiation, on the other hand, is not so readily grasped, especially in the current era. It is a far more subtle explication of the Real Presence than merely stating, "This is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The doctrine of transubstantiation assumes knowledge of other philosophical constructs which are often alien to the mind of the modern believer. You go and try to explain "substance" and "accidents". It isn't that easy.

That the overwhelming majority of Catholics believe that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is a good thing. That large numbers get confused in the details of "substance" and "accidents" and whatnot may be regrettable, but it is understandable.

"Are not right doctrine and right living connected?"

Certainly. As far as one has capacity to understand doctrine. There is a young lady in my parish who has Down Syndrome. She is an active participant in parish life. She receives the Eucharist weekly. She believes in the Real Presence. I don't think that she could accurately pick out the doctrine of transubstantiation from competing doctrines at a rate much greater than random chance.

That doesn't mean she doesn't have right doctrine. It means she has it to the degree that she is capable.

So it is for many Catholics. If you ask them questions within their boundaries of theological competence, education, and capacity, you will often find them to be thoroughly orthodox, or at least willing to learn what is orthodox teaching, and to accept it on hearing it. If you ask them questions beyond those boundaries, you will unfairly draw the conclusion that they have wrong doctrine.

The Mystery of the Eucharist is a great mystery, indeed. It is an inexhaustible mystery. Though we can sufficiently grasp the mystery through the True Teaching of the Holy Catholic Church, that teaching does not exhaust the Mystery of the Eucharist.

And just as the teaching of the Church hasn't exhausted that mystery, many Catholics have not exhausted even the Church's understanding of that mystery. For some Catholics, that may be due to indolence. For others, it is certainly a result of reaching personal limitations.

Generally speaking, I give the benefit of the doubt to my Catholic brothers and sisters.

sitetest

Are not right doctrine and right living connected?

<> Yeah. But the connections is not always in that assumed positive direction. I know many, like myself, who are not unfamiliar with Christian Doctrine yet routinely sin.

One of the greatest intellects of all time, St.Thomas Aquinas, who explained the meaning of transubstantiation using accidents and substance, was given a vision near the end of his days. After the vision of what the Eucharist really entails, he declared "All I have written is straw."

Those who followed Jesus, knowing He had the words of eternal life, even though they were not intellectually equipped to dispute with the learned amongst the crowd that fell away (John 6) were right in their behavior.

A little knowledge can be dangerous - witness me:). Knowledge CAN serve love. It can also,combined with a disordered will, lead one to imitate Lucifer.<>