Catholic Creed

I believe in the Resurrection of the body/dead.  Like Christ, we believe that we shall also have a glorified body.

I believe that Christ descended into hell.  The word for hell was actually sheol which means the abode of the dead.  Since Christ is the only one that could open the gates of heaven, everyone before him, after death, is found in sheol.

Three things can be said about the creed: creed, code and cultus.

CREED
Creed is not just a generic set of beliefs, but what we willfully believe as truth.  For instance, if a lie is repeated long enough and loud enough, it will eventually be thought of us as the truth.  For instance, "There is no heaven, so just do whatever makes you happy!"  If this is repeated often, eventually we may believe that it is true.  Normally, the lie can be more subtle than that.  "You only live once."        

Religion is not just a matter of believing in something that others have said, or what you think is truth, but that you know in your heart that it is the truth!

CODE

There is also a moral code.  Our belief must go hand in hand with our action, thus a moral code.  If we believe that God exists, but live without any responsibility or accountability, then it would seem that we are saying one thing and doing something else.  As Christians, our moral code is to abide to the Ten Commandments and the Law of the Gospel.

CULTUS  

The third has to do with cultus, which we get the word cultivate.  How do we express and cultivate the gift of Faith and allow it to be nourished, sustained and grow?

The best way is the Holy Mass, the great prayer of the Church.  Like using vitamins or protein supplements, we can also use spiritual supplements like spiritual readings, spiritual direction, Confessions, personal prayer times and prayer devotions.

If plants, trees and flowers are not cultivated, they will die.  The gift of faith can also die, unless it is cultivated properly.

CREDO
I believe, from the Latin, Credo.  Now, Isn't it strange that usually we would ask people the question: What do you believe?  Normally, people would give their personal answers.  The Church, however, doesn't ask us what we believe, but tells us what to believe.

Listen, how often do we beg people to tell us what to think.  For instance, I often look on YELP website to search for reviews of restaurants and places.  Sometimes, before I purchase a book, a car, or any type of product, I first look at the customer's reviews so that I could form my own beliefs and opinions.

Also, the area of REVELATION is an entirely different area since we can only know God in the manner that God has revealed Himself to us.  God did so through the Old and New Testament, and through the teachings handed down from the Apostles.