Introduction to Ethical Debates
Each topic is purposely broad in nature to allow for as many interests as possible. Our only request is that you stay within the limits of these boundaries. We welcome a board range of topics and welcome comments from all. If a conversation had begun on a specific topic, we also ask that you continue to conversation within that entry and limit new entries to truly new topics. Thanks.
I think your female version
I think your female version of the creed makes a good point as to how it feels when a girl encounters the wording of the Nicene Creed. However, I do not think your gender neutral version makes the appropriate theological points, but rather is a new theological perspective in which Jesus and the Holy Spirit nowadays reward "good behavior" in believers--i.e. who share the good news and practice compassion and forgiveness--and in which salvation is earned by sharing the goods of the earth.
To declare that Jesus was born in order that humanity might hear the gospel message is decidedly Islamic theologically, in that Islam teaches that Jesus was a great prophet of rather miraculous birth who may have been resurrected, but was human, not one and the same as God. And, while the Holy Spirit surely acts in us when we raise our hands to bless or help one another, the Holy Spirit is also at work in us when we are in conflict with one another.
A lot of work went into developing the Nicene Creed, and it needs to be read as written if the important points of Christianity are to be understood, though it might be possible to simply say "for us, and for our salvation", instead of "for us men".
The Nicaean Creed The
The Nicaean Creed
The Nicaean Creed of the Roman Catholic Church was pulled together at the Council of Nicaea held in Nicaea (present-day Iznik in Turkey) in 325 A.D. This first ecumenical council was convoked by and under the power and authority of the Roman Emperor Constantine I. The people of the Catholic Church who say this creed are hampered by the archaic language which can imply erroneous beliefs, even though 1700 years ago in the Latin language, something entirely different may have been on the male minds that created this dogma.
Two important changes have taken place in our language and beliefs. We no longer must believe that God is a male person, and we no longer assume that the English word "man" means both men and women.
To demonstrate this confusion, first, I would like to replace all the male words with female words in the Nicaean Creed. Then, secondly, I would like to replace all the male words with non-gender descriptions that seem to promote the message of Jesus. In either case, I do not believe that I will come up with belief statements that ring true. I am only trying to emphasize how many women may feel when they say, "For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven." It is no wonder that the Roman Catholic Church remains so patriarchal, and anti-women-priests, when they have their congregates repeatedly affirm a male God.
Here is a creed with female over-emphasis:
We believe in one God, the Mother, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.We believe in one Lady, Salvatia Christina, the only Daughter of God, eternally begotten of the Mother, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Mother. Through her all things were made. For us women and for our salvation she came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit she was born of the Virgin Mary, and became woman. For our sake she was crucified under Pontius Pilate; she suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day she rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; she ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Mother. She will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and her Queendom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lady, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Mother and the Daughter. With the Mother and the Daughter she is worshiped and glorified. She has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
How does the male reader feel about his seeming exclusion? Now for a creed that de-emphasizes gender and uses words that promote the message of Jesus.
We believe in one God, the All-Loving, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one human being Jesus Christ, the offspring of God whose mind was most open to the mind of God, and whose message of love and forgiveness most reflected the love and forgiveness of God. This human Jesus Christ was born of a special human Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in order that all humanity might hear the gospel message. This Jesus was crucified; suffered, died, and was buried; and then rose to live in the hearts of those who would hear and act on the message of truth and compassion. Those who hear this gospel and share the goods of the earth with their fellow humans will partake in a holy community of mercy and salvation forever. We believe in an all-encompassing Holy Spirit which proceeds from God, gives life to all creation, and is willing to dwell in all human beings. This Holy Spirit has spoken through the prophets, lives with the communities that practice compassion and forgiveness, acts in us when we raise our hands to bless or help one another, comforts the dying, and gives us hope for the resurrection of the body and eternal life of the spirit.
These two attempts at creedal statements leave much to be desired, but they may help Catholic Christians to formulate just what they are believing when they recite the Nicaean Creed.