Do our beliefs and traditions come from God or from human beings?
The short answer
Both, in different ways. The doctrinal and moral teachings handed down since the beginning — Sacred Tradition — were given by Jesus to the apostles and passed to their successors. Disciplines (like priestly celibacy) and customs (like Advent wreaths) are human in origin, developed by Christians to live the faith better.
Sacred Tradition
Catholics believe the doctrinal and moral teachings the Church has taught since the beginning were given by Jesus to the apostles and handed on by them to their successors (2 Timothy 2:1-2). These teachings are Sacred Tradition.
Disciplines and customs
Other Catholic traditions — better called disciplines, such as priestly celibacy, and customs, such as Advent wreaths — are "man-made" in the sense that Christians developed them over the centuries as ways to live their faith better.
Continue exploring
- How do we know the Bible is not the sole rule of faith?Q&A
- Should extra-biblical traditions carry the same weight as Scripture?Q&A
- Are Catholics free to interpret Bible verses without the Church's approval?Q&A
- How should Catholics read the Bible?Q&A
- Who decided which books are in the Bible?Q&A
- Are the Protoevangelium of James and the Gospel of the Birth of Mary authentic documents?Q&A