In Praise of Rote Learning: Why We Need Catechisms

Rote. The word sounds negative, doesn’t it? It may give a parent flashbacks to long lists of dates or learning multiplication tables. Using mechanical or habitual repetition to teach children the truths of something as precious as the gospel may sound especially unappealing, even inappropriate.

Yet this is precisely the method proponents of religious catechisms advocate. Children who learn catechisms memorize the answers to questions like “What is God?” “What do you understand by the providence of God?” and “What is prayer?” We expect young children won’t fully understand the answers they’ve memorized. The process is truly mechanical. Is this right? Isn’t catechizing kids by way of rote memorization the same as indoctrinating or brainwashing them?

We expect young children won’t fully understand the answers they’ve memorized. The process is truly mechanical. Is this right?

This objection to catechizing isn’t uncommon today, but it’s truly an objection of today. People didn’t make “brainwashing” claims until recently. The ancient way was to ensure children mentally stockpiled as much useful material as possible, even if they didn’t understand it.

But today, rote learning has fallen out of favor for at least two reasons: we’re deferential to young people’s feelings, and we tend to think learning must be individualized to be “child friendly.” If children dislike memorizing, we shouldn’t make them do it, right? And surely memorizing content we don’t fully understand clashes with our creative drive. But are these objections enough to ditch a venerable method of learning?

Aimed for Formation

Flannery O’Connor once argued for the use of a textbook that was unpopular among students. She wasn’t swayed by her critics, but said, “If the student finds that this is not to his taste? Well, that is regrettable. Most regrettable. His taste should not be consulted; it is being formed.” This is the logic of rote memorization. It’s by design that young children won’t understand (and perhaps won’t even like) the catechism immediately.

B. B. Warfield cited Westminster Shorter Catechism contributor, Lazarus Seaman, as saying that the questions and answers weren’t aimed at the level of knowledge a child has but at the knowledge “the child ought to have.” Similarly, the catechism isn’t aimed at the level of desire a child currently has but at the desire the child ought to have. It’s meant to be formative.

Many parents want children to express their opinions, ideas, and desires for life. This can be good, but to be formed well, children must be taught the elementary truths on which mature ideas and skills are built. Countless times, I (William) have wished I was fluent in other languages. But I’ve never taken the time to learn the grammar and vocabulary. If I’m ever to fulfill this desire, I’ll need to go back and learn the basics. When my learning has started with elementary things, I’ve never regretted it. In elementary school, for instance, I memorized a song that taught the U.S. states in alphabetical order. In third grade, I knew almost nothing about those states, but that song set my trajectory.

Children memorize the ABCs long before they can tell you how the alphabet works and why it’s important. Mature formation follows disciplined learning of information and skills that build on each other. As Dorothy Sayers argued, “It does not matter nearly so much that these things should be fully understood as that they should be known and remembered. Remember, it is material that we are collecting.” Material for building.

This is true in religion too. We want our children to have a personal walk with Jesus. But a self-conscious relationship with Christ is formed by first learning facts.

Foundation for Faith

The fundamentals of the Christian faith are the most vital building blocks we could give our children. Catechisms have rightly been called “the Christian’s ABC.” They offer the materials of a sound religious education. As D. G. Hart put it,

If you grow up with it, you will never need to outgrow it. . . . And some day, God willing, you will remember back to the drudgery of learning the Catechism and actually thank God that parents and teachers exposed you to a system of truth that has sustained Christians for generations and can sustain you for the rest of your life.

Effective catechisms systematize God’s revelation, telling the story of redemption in outline form. Historical catechisms teach about the massively important events summarized in the Apostles’ Creed and sketch a form of practical piety taught by God himself in the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer.

This is the doctrine our children need, truth that gives us faith and life (Titus 2:10). As Christians, we’re not embarrassed by this, and so we shouldn’t shy away from indoctrinating our children in the truth. Teaching our children catechisms will neither brainwash them nor convert them. We shouldn’t forget our need for the Holy Spirit to powerfully operate in their lives.

Still, how are we to raise our kids in the fear of the Lord unless we get doctrine into their hearts and minds? How will our children believe if they don’t hear the good news (Rom. 10:14)? Rather than expecting our kids to wander into the faith of their own accord, we should give them basic doctrinal propositions on which to build their lives.

Designed for Memory

If we’re honest, it may be parents—more so than our children—who are annoyed by the idea of memorizing. Most children will happily memorize and repeat ad nauseam the most insignificant poem or song lyric. Memorizing is laborious for adults; it’s fun for kids.

Memorizing is laborious for adults; it’s fun for kids.

Thankfully, good catechisms are made to be easily memorized. If you’re looking for contemporary resources to help your family begin learning from a faithful catechism, here are some great options. The Quest for Comfort introduces children to the history of the Heidelberg Catechism, and Kevin DeYoung’s The Good News We Almost Forgot helps families journey through it together. Similarly, our book Glorifying and Enjoying God helps families journey through the Westminster Shorter Catechism in a year. You should also check out The Gospel Coalitions’s New City Catechism resources.

Let’s reconsider the beauty of rote learning. Let’s give our children the best mental building materials we can find, trusting that with God’s help, they’ll later learn to synthesize the facts they’ve tucked away.

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