Credible Catholic Blog

“So, prayer is a kind of musical staff, where we inscribe the melody of our lives. It is not in contrast with daily work, it does not contradict the many small obligations and appointments; if anything, it is the place where every action finds its meaning, its reason and its peace. In prayer.” Pope Francis

Atheism is clearly on the rise—a point brought to light recently when Harvard University appointed an atheist as the school’s chaplain.

Catholic Catechist Certifications have grown in popularity in recent years. The advancement in science and technology poses new topics and questions in religious education classrooms and in the hearts of individuals looking to learn more about what the Catholic Church believes. In this article, we’ll define what a Catechist Certification is and some places to acquire one. We’ll also provide you an opportunity to learn more about Credible Catholic’s Certification in Contemporary Apologetics and how it might help you grow in your faith, while also equipping you to discuss and teach the faith to your students, children, and/or parish community. 

Whether you’re a religious education teacher, a DRE for a parish, or even a parent, you may have been asked one or all of the contemporary Catholic apologetics questions below. Though some are existential in nature and some scientific, you don’t need a Ph.D. in Physics, Theology, or Philosophy to help others find the answers they are looking for. 

This is the first of a series of articles on how science works and, most importantly, the limits of science: what it cannot tell us about our world. There’ll be several pieces on how and why we believe, the various kinds of knowing, and how they’re used in science. I’ll give examples of how scientific beliefs change when new facts and theories emerge. The framework for this discussion will be the historical development of thermodynamics, the science of energy.

In this article, we’ll explore why Catholic apologetic educators need to teach students and families alike how to find reliable Catholic resources. Whether it be in-person guidance, print materials, or online resources, Catholics need clear information and practical strategies they can use to find trustworthy, relevant sources. Plus, you’ll also get access to two downloadable resources to use with your students, within your family, or for your own personal faith formation:

One of the biggest challenges Catholic kids, teens, and young adults face today is how to reconcile faith in God and suffering in the world. They’ve been taught that Christ is a loving God in church, in school, and at home,. But when they see earthquakes, disease, social injustices, poverty, and the suffering of friends and family—or when they experience suffering themselves—it becomes difficult to understand God and accept His will. The secular world and media today constantly bombard kids with messaging that makes it even more difficult to believe God is loving and that suffering can, in fact, lead us to a transcendent relationship with Him. In this article, you’ll learn how Catholic educators can address one of the toughest questions their students will ever ask: Why does God allow pain and suffering if He loves us?

Most Catholic educators would agree: we want our students to think deeply about their faith and why they believe in the tenants of Christianity. In order to do this, we must take a slightly different approach than the standardized Catholic curriculum and turn towards reason and science to fortify our students’ beliefs. Guiding students to becoming critical and intellectual Catholics requires educators to take a new (yet actually quite ancient) approach to faith formation: apologetics.

As Catholic educators, doing what's best for student's faith formation is a top priority. You can’t sit around and wait for your students’ faith to waver before you learn the tools to help them navigate through uncertainty. The time to address young people’s questions and concerns about faith, science, and secular myths is now! As important as it is to begin, we know that figuring out how to teach apologetics and where to start can feel pretty overwhelming. In this article, you’ll learn some tips for how to jumpstart your curriculum and strategies for teaching apologetics to your students. Plus, you’ll get access to ten of Credible Catholic's Most Asked Questions Videos on the two apologetics topics that students struggle with the most: science and suffering.

As religious educators, you serve as the “go-to” for students when they have questions or concerns about their faith and how it fits into the bigger picture of history, science, and culture. In order to help students navigate through times of uncertainty in their faith journey and defend their beliefs in a largely secular society, catechists must serve in another role: that of the apologist. If we want our students to grow into lifelong defenders of faith, we must equip them with the tools they need to do so, and those tools are found within the field of apologetics. In this article, you’ll learn about why apologists are needed now more than ever, how the study of apologetics is beneficial personally and professionally to educators as well as students, and how to become an apologist today. Plus, you’ll get access to a free download of our Prayer for Knowledge  Prayer Card—a perfect resource to use in your classroom for promoting discussion about challenging topics.