His own attitude toward art was pragmatic: it could be used for doctrinal instruction.
Early Christian catechesis was concerned primarily with exhorting those preparing for baptism to follow the way of "life" as opposed to that of "death"; it was distinguished from the more doctrinal instruction that followed one's baptism.
To be sure, the United States Military Academy at West Point, one of the foremost and illustriously storied institutions in the entire world for the doctrinal instruction and professional development of officers in the profession of arms, requires such leadership.
Benavente described indignantly how Las Casas had once denied baptism to an aging Indian who had walked many leagues to receive it, only on the grounds that he did not believe that the man had received sufficient doctrinal instruction.
The Nicene Creed exists in two versions and represents a new type of doctrinal statement.
The Antoinist healing process does not include a doctrinal teaching nor a psychological manipulation.
Symeon the New Theologian's writings consist mainly of catecheses (Greek: "doctrinal and moral instructions"); sermons preached to his monks at St. Mamas; a series of short rules, capita (Latin: "chapters"); and the Hymns of the Divine Loves, describing his spiritual experiences.
Through these activities they provide religious instruction (doctrinal formation), coaching in spirituality for lay people (spiritual formation), character and moral education (human formation), lessons in sanctifying one's work (professional formation), and know-how in evangelizing one's family and workplace (apostolic formation).
These centers provide residential housing for celibate members, and provide doctrinal and theological education.
Among other works attributed to John are theological writings relative to Trinitarian doctrinal controversy, the "Catechetical Discourse," and instructions for religious initiation, the "Mystagogia".
