Rather, it's the scripture itself that has the REAL value. Frankly, the Creed is just a regurgitation, when looked at critically, don't you think?
I tend to think of the Creed as strong meat, as opposed to partially digested meat...
...although I tend to think of individual opinions as regurgitation, when looked at critically- mine included.
take this for an example. I read a story about a woman who came to Christ. She was beset by people she knew who were Christians "of another stripe" than the church she was attending. They questioned her stridently about this, that, and the other thing. (most likely using their OWN confession of faith, or Formal Creed as the measuring bar. The womans response was "I don't know about that. All I know, is that when I was alone, these people, they held my baby."
I found it kind of touching, actually.
Absolutely- I find the Mormons, for example, to be very fine, moral and compassionate people. I am not, however, about to embrace their belief- but I am open to learning from them how to be Christ-like.
Incidentally, I find many non-Christins to be more compassionate than many of the self-proclaimed Christians I have encountered. Still not inclined to depart my Christian faith.
I've even heard some pretty touching stories from Muslims re their faith and action.
and who's to say that even USING the creed, that sound teaching is guaranteed? For example, some agree, and some disagree that the "one holy and Apostolic catholic church" means the RCC. some don't. Some believe that the one baptism is neccessarily a water baptism, some don't. Without arguing about who is, and who is not right... someone ISN'T teaching truth.... and they are BOTH using the Creed.
And people using the bible, or eschewing creeds, are not divisive, nor use the bible as a tool of division?
(cue pause and reflect mode)
so it can die a slow death, ignored by the general populace of the forums.
So you admit that it belongs elsewhere, you just don't want it there.
Alrighty then.
or, a more modern example, just some other Christians who don't pay much attention to the Creeds... wholly unacceptable to those who cling to it.
Correction: Creedal Christians cling to CHRIST, not to a creed. They CONFESS a creed, agree with it, etc.
Do you cling to your "no creed?" Or do you simply express and confess same???
that's pretty much all any opinion is, Rdr. Whether or not you have others who believe like you, your belief is individual in scope.
Nonsense. Individual belief is shaped by learned/shared belief. Belief is ALWAYS both individual and corporate: individual in that individuals choose them, corporate in that something comes from som other with which to agree. This is a restating of a point I have already made.
and look how it's been abused as time has passed.
That's your opinion. I'd like to see what isn't abused "as time pass(es)."
sorry, I'm probably mistaken, but that last statement makes me think you are saying GOD intended the Creed be written.
I have no idea where you come up with this stuff. Perhaps you could stop reading between the lines, and simply read the lines themselves?
and by orthodox belief, it's clear that the position is that only the orthodox church does it right. This is one of the points of this thread.
Does what "right?" Are you referring to somehing in particular, or just making a "broad, sweeping generalization?" Seriously, this just reads like an ad hominem and/or poisoning the well.
outside of the Ultra-right "everyone else is the devil" types, I can't say that I've observed this.
So Evangelical Christians don't believe that Muslims, Hindus, Homosexuals, agnostics and so forth are damned? According to recent polls, 57% of Evangelicals believe that other religions lead to eernal life. Of course, Evangelical apologists tend to view this view as the heresy of Universalism creeping into evangelical circles.
that could be a REALLY good point, if there wasn't schism and division between the churches who cling to the Creeds tenaciously.
We cling to Christ tenaciously. Do those who cling to their bibles "tenaciously" have any divisions among them?
(rhetorical question, we all know the answer).
Arguments over truth do not null truth or Truth.
Orthodox Christians don't believe ANYONE other than themselves are, frankly.
Are frankly what? Presenting God as He has revealed Himself, or saved?
