CREED: AN INTRODUCTION TO CREEDS AND BELIEFS AND SPECIFICALLY TO "MY' CREED AS SET FORTH IN THE APOSTLES' CREED AS I UNDERSTAND IT

In some musings that came before this series I was thinking about what people believe or say they believe and it caused me to move in this direction:


I believe in_________. So what?
I think we should be able to ask that of every truth I, or anyone else postulates. The "so what" meaning simply, OK based on this belief, what are the practical consequences?” 

 

 

I BELIEVE

 

I ended the last entry with the statement that what one declares as their belief should be followed with a "So what?" question. Meaning that a belief, or a declared belief is only of value when it carries with it consequences of behaviour or attitude that would be different if the belief were different. But that does not mean that 2 persons of quite differing beliefs could not do the same thing, nor that 2 persons with the same belief would do the same thing. But it might mean that I, with a differing belief would do things differently. (Do you beg to differ?) So I want to take a Creed that I have professed is MY creed and look at it line by line or phrase by phrase, asking myself "So what?". So what should that mean in my attitude? What should it mean in my behaviour? And what should it mean as far as others' expectations of me?

Whether I begin with the historic and orthodox Christian Creed which begins with "I believe in God the Father", or just a statement of observation, such as "I believe it will reach 20 degrees today", I will have set expectations for whatever is to follow.
Of necessity the phrase "I believe" does two or three things. The word "Creed" comes from "credo" which means "I believe", and "I believe" immediately sets the boundaries and responsibilities. I am confessing that quite apart from anyone else, that which follows expresses my position and as such it is I, and I alone, that have to answer for behaviour or attitude that is either consistent or inconsistent with that declaration.
Secondly, I am stating that this is a "belief" and whether what follows is true or false, I have come to the conclusion, perhaps by a multitude of influences, to rest in the conviction that it is true, and will serve my purposes until some other information, or circumstances show it to be false or needing an amendment.
And by declaring, to an individual, or the world, that this is my belief, I am inviting a degree of scrutiny, and response, positive or negative, that if I am not prepared to defend what follows, I should have kept silent. (Of course when my actions say so loudly what I believe, it is hard to "hide" my creed no matter how few words are used.)
This then is the path I am about to strike out on over the next several entries and to which I will invite the most vigorous of comment, debate, challenge or whatever... while at the same time throwing down the gauntlet to know what the respondent believes and how the same or different creed may or may not result in similar or dissimilar acts (or attitudes.)