Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/creeds3.iv.vi.html
Can also be found in Google Books
129 questions and answers. These are divided into three main parts:
I. The Misery of Man – This part consists of the Lord’s Day 2, 3, and 4.
II. The Redemption (or Deliverance) of Man – This part consists of Lord’s Day 5 through to Lord’s Day 31.
III. The Gratitude Due from Man (for such a deliverance) – This part consists of the Lord’s Day 32 through to Lord’s Day 52.
In 1618-1619, the Dutch government on behalf of the Dutch Reformed Church, called and convened the Synod of Dort. The “Three Forms of Unity” were Heidelberg Catechism (1563), the Belgic Confession (1561), and the Cannons of Dort (1618-1619).
Westminster Catechism
There exist:
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- Westminster Larger Catechism (1643) – www.opc.org/lc.html
- Westminster Shorter Catechism (1646) – www.shortercatechism.com
Also in 1646, the 1646 Westminster Assembly drew up the Westminster Confession of Faith as a Reformed confession of faith.
From Westminster Shorter Catechism: The most famous of the questions is the first:
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
This is Calvinist thought in the English tradition. Used by Presbyterians and Congregationalists.
In 1643 when the Long Parliament of England called the Westminster Assembly to produce the Westminster Confession. This is during the period of the English Civil War(s).
New City Catechism (TGC)
From The Gospel Coalition. Has 3 parts: 1: God, Creation, The Fall, Law; 2: Christ, Redemption, Grace; 3: Spirit, Restoration, Growth in Grace. Contains a Child’s Version and songs. 🎶
Luther’s Small Catechism
Luther’s Small Catechism is divided into six chief parts.
Catholic
Baltimore Catechism http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/14551/pg14551-images.html
There are other forms. See Wikipedia and the links at the bottom for the other forms. The official national catechism for children in the United States of America, based on Robert Bellarmine‘s 1614 Small Catechism. The first such catechism written for Catholics in North America, it was the standard Catholic school text in the country from 1885 to the late 1960s. It was officially replaced by the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults in 2004, based on the revised universal Catechism of the Catholic Church.
6. Q. Why did God make you?
A. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven.