Yeah, but can you dance to it.......................... The Nicaean Creed
In response to a recent post, Hal Tewksberry of the International Herald-Times asked in the comments:
The Nicaean Creed has actually served two functions throughout the history of the Church. In order to determine if its needs to be changed, we must examine its effectiveness at both of its functions.
The Council of Nicea was convened at the behest of Emperor Constantine in 325 A.D. to combat the ascendancy of the heresy of Arianism (for those interested Nicea is located in modern day Turkey, and let's face it, when you think Turkey you think real meccca of Christianity). Arianism essentially boiled down to a belief in the teachings of Jesus, but not in His divinity. As a tool to combat this belief the Creed was and continues to be extremely effective, as the closest modern descendent of this heresy is the Jehovah's Witnesses (and I think we can all agree that the Church does not really need to worry too much about competition from a sect that stole its marketing plan from the Girl Scouts).
Beyond the immediate practical matter of combating Arianism, the Nicaean Creed was created as an attempt to define what the essentials of Christianity really are - the core beliefs, the dogma that members of the Church should all believe. In order to really understand its effectiveness in this second function, we must compare the Creed to another, very successful, document that defined a new creation and its ideals: the United States Constitution. The Consti---actually, let's not look at the Constitution, let's look at the album "Straight Outta Compton" by NWA.
"Straight Outta Compton" was NWA's first album, really defined Gansta rap and I think is a good comparison for any successful statement of belief - a yard stick, if you will, with which to measure any deficiencies in the Creed. The album, successfully outlines the basic beliefs of the ideology: an overall negative view of the Los Angeles police department, the inherent virtues of malt liquor, fire arms and loose women, as well as the need for adherents of Gansta Rap to openly state what one is thinking. I think we can all agree that the Creed is also successful in outlining the beliefs of Christianity.
"Straight Outta Compton" is also notable because of the future success of the members of the band: Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" and Ice Cube's hit acting roles in "Barbershop" and "Friday, are just a pair of the successes that followed for those who penned the album. The Creed also matches up well in this regard: present at the Council were Eusebius Pamphili, Bishop of Cæsarea in Palestine (who is widely hailed as the Father of Church history) and Nicholas of Myra (who was cannonized and is known to the modern world as Santa Claus).
For a statement of belief to be completely successful its must holds its audience form start to finish. This aspect is the one place where the Creed is not as successful as "Straight Outta Compton". "Straight Outta Compton", in the midst of all its hardcore Gansta statements, includes the track "Something to Dance to". This is a smooth, silky tune with little or nothing to do with the Gansta Credo, but it is a necessary, light-hearted break in the litany of beliefs that serves to hold the listeners interest. The Creed has no such track, it simply drowns on and on. Therefore, the only change that would be made to the creed where I to be elected Pope would be the addition of the Chorus:
[Please note, this was the entirety of Devin's response regarding the Nicaean Creed. He also informed me that should anyone else have an questions regarding his positions, they can just leave them in the Comments and he will respond. - ed]
Mr. Devin, do you have plans to change the Nicaean Creed? If so, what are they?I forward this question on to Devin and received the following response via electronic mail:
The Nicaean Creed has actually served two functions throughout the history of the Church. In order to determine if its needs to be changed, we must examine its effectiveness at both of its functions.
The Council of Nicea was convened at the behest of Emperor Constantine in 325 A.D. to combat the ascendancy of the heresy of Arianism (for those interested Nicea is located in modern day Turkey, and let's face it, when you think Turkey you think real meccca of Christianity). Arianism essentially boiled down to a belief in the teachings of Jesus, but not in His divinity. As a tool to combat this belief the Creed was and continues to be extremely effective, as the closest modern descendent of this heresy is the Jehovah's Witnesses (and I think we can all agree that the Church does not really need to worry too much about competition from a sect that stole its marketing plan from the Girl Scouts).
Beyond the immediate practical matter of combating Arianism, the Nicaean Creed was created as an attempt to define what the essentials of Christianity really are - the core beliefs, the dogma that members of the Church should all believe. In order to really understand its effectiveness in this second function, we must compare the Creed to another, very successful, document that defined a new creation and its ideals: the United States Constitution. The Consti---actually, let's not look at the Constitution, let's look at the album "Straight Outta Compton" by NWA.
"Straight Outta Compton" was NWA's first album, really defined Gansta rap and I think is a good comparison for any successful statement of belief - a yard stick, if you will, with which to measure any deficiencies in the Creed. The album, successfully outlines the basic beliefs of the ideology: an overall negative view of the Los Angeles police department, the inherent virtues of malt liquor, fire arms and loose women, as well as the need for adherents of Gansta Rap to openly state what one is thinking. I think we can all agree that the Creed is also successful in outlining the beliefs of Christianity.
"Straight Outta Compton" is also notable because of the future success of the members of the band: Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" and Ice Cube's hit acting roles in "Barbershop" and "Friday, are just a pair of the successes that followed for those who penned the album. The Creed also matches up well in this regard: present at the Council were Eusebius Pamphili, Bishop of Cæsarea in Palestine (who is widely hailed as the Father of Church history) and Nicholas of Myra (who was cannonized and is known to the modern world as Santa Claus).
For a statement of belief to be completely successful its must holds its audience form start to finish. This aspect is the one place where the Creed is not as successful as "Straight Outta Compton". "Straight Outta Compton", in the midst of all its hardcore Gansta statements, includes the track "Something to Dance to". This is a smooth, silky tune with little or nothing to do with the Gansta Credo, but it is a necessary, light-hearted break in the litany of beliefs that serves to hold the listeners interest. The Creed has no such track, it simply drowns on and on. Therefore, the only change that would be made to the creed where I to be elected Pope would be the addition of the Chorus:
Go, Go Jesus,
Get Busy, its your sabbathday
Go Jesus, Get Busy, its your Sabbathday.
[Please note, this was the entirety of Devin's response regarding the Nicaean Creed. He also informed me that should anyone else have an questions regarding his positions, they can just leave them in the Comments and he will respond. - ed]
posted by BertramWooster at 5:25 PM
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