How to write an article
If you are reading this then you are probably thinking about writing your own articles and publishing them online, either on a blog or a community website. If so, it is worth considering a few things before you begin.
First of all, think about why you are going to write. Do you want to put forward a certain view or argument about a topic or do you want to just make information about a certain subject more accessible? Bear this in mind throughout your writing.
Do your research
No matter what the subject matter of your article is you can always benefit from doing some research on the topic. Take a look at articles that other people have written and take on board the things you like and dislike about their writing. You might learn something new about the topic in the process which you can then incorporate into your own work.
Structure your article
One of my University lecturers always said that he would tell a class what he was going to tell them, then he would tell them, then he would tell them what he just told them! Whilst it sounds a little strange, this three step repetition is a very effective way to share information.
Start by introducing your reader to the subject matter via a short literature review, go on to explore the subject in more detail, and then close with a summary of what they have just read.
Be clear and concise
Your article will be competing against a world full of information on the Internet so make sure that your reader gets the point. Be clear and concise with your language and don’t pad out articles with unnecessary superlatives.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar
Modern blogging and word processing programs will help with this, but it is certainly an advantage if you have a good understanding of the language you are writing in. There is not much worse than trying to decrypt the content of an online article.
Be natural
Don’t forget that you are writing for other people! Nobody likes to read through hundreds of lines of flat, boring text so make your article interesting and entertaining. A sense of humour is not always appropriate, but it can certainly help your reader enjoy your article.
History of Catholicism
Catholicism is a form of Christianity that has a long and rich history. The term primarily refers to Christians that are in full communion with the Church of Rome and are led by the Roman Pontiff, currently Pope Benedict XVI.
The name “Catholic” will often be used to describe any member of the Christian faith although this usage is far from appropriate. Catholicism differs from many other branches of Christianity and bears very noticeable contrasts to the beliefs of Protestant Reformers.
The word “Catholic” is an adjective derived from the Greek language and means “universal”. Its usage in reference to the Church implies that Christianity is open to people of all ages, genders and races and is not limited to any particular time or place.
Catholics have faith in one God and in Jesus, the son of God. They follow the teachings of the Bible and believe that Jesus suffered for the sins of mankind, was crucified and buried, and was then resurrected to open heaven to his followers. They believe that Mary was the Mother of Jesus and that her conception was immaculate.
Most Catholics are baptised, a ritual that signifies the removal of original sin and welcomes the recipient into the family of the Catholic Church. Baptisms will usually be conducted on infants and involves immersing the subject in water, although gently pouring water on the forehead is a more common act nowadays.
The foundation of the Catholic belief centres on the seven sacraments. These sacraments were defined and taught by Christ during his life on Earth. The sacraments include baptism, confirmation, Holy Communion, confession, marriage, holy orders and the anointing of the sick, also known as last rites.
Like all of Christianity, prayer is a big part of the practice of Catholicism and provides a means to reflect and find grace. Catholics pray to God and Jesus, but also to Saints. The term Saint refers to a follower of Christ and lives exclusively according to His teachings, although is often used more specifically to refer to particular holy men or women that have already entered Heaven having lived a life of virtue.
Catholic writing
Catholic churches are closely associated with the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Churches are said to be in communion with the current pope who is Pope Benedict XVI. There are numerous online sites for writing Catholic literature and this site will list and help to find them.