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Different Creeds and Confessions of Christianity
For those interested in knowing what Christians believe, here is where you learn more about the creeds, statements of faith and confessions that have defined the Christian faith in times ancient and modern.
Apostles
Creed
Developed between the second and ninth centuries as an affirmation of faith for
new Christians this is the most widely accepted statement of faith used in
worship by Western Christians.
Athanasian
Creed
The Athanasian Creed, also know as the "Quicumque vult", was formerly
recited during mass on Sundays. It is one of the four authoritative Creeds of
the Catholic Church. The Anglican Church and some Protestant Churches also hold
it to be authoritative.
The
Nicene Creed
Written during the 4th century A.D. in an attempt to unify the Christian church
under emperor Constantine. Second only in familiarity to the Apostles Creed, it
is the only statement of faith that is accepted by all three major branches of
Christianity including Protestant, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox.
The
Augsburg Confession
This is the first of the great Protestant Confessions. Most Lutheran church
bodies base their teachings upon this document.
Church
of England
You have to explore rather
deeply within it to find out what "Cof E" members believe.
Confession
of 1967
Written during the troubled 1960's, this was a bold attempt to bring the
Christian faith into conversation with the concerns of that period. Edward
A. Dowey, Jr. then teaching at Princeton Seminary, headed the committee which
composed it.
ELCA
Confession of Faith
This confession appears in the Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America.
The
Heidelberg Catechism
Written by Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus in Germany at the time of the
breaking of the peace of Augsburg in response to the Lutherans and at the
direction of Frederick the Elector. It is one of the principal documents of the
Reformed tradition.
Luther's
95 Theses
One of the most important documents in western history, this is the defining
statement of Martin Luther's dispute with the Roman Catholic practice of selling
indulgences. What came to be known as the Protestant Reformation got underway
big time starting right here.
A
Modern Affirmation
As found in The Book of Worship for Church and Home; The Methodist Publishing
House, Nashville, TN; © 1965.
Official
Statement of Fundamental Truths
From the Assemblies of God denomination.
PANTHEISM
The earth is sacred. The cosmos is divine. These "pantheistic"
affirmations have an influence in contemporary culture far beyond the minds of
those who call themselves pantheists.
PC(USA):
A Brief Statement of Faith
After the two largest streams of Presbyterianism in the United States reunited
to form the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1983 a committee was appointed to
draft a brief summary of the Christian faith. Their draft was adopted in 1991.
Short and concise, it is suitable for use in public worship.
Scottish
Confession of Faith
Written by John Knox and colleagues at the conclusion of the Scottish civil war
in response to medieval Catholicism and at the behest of the Scottish
Parliament. The Scottish Confession is considered as one of the charter
documents in Presbyterian history and tradition.
Star
Trek theology
There's lots of religion in Star Trek and the belief system of its author, Gene
Roddenberry.
The
Theological Declaration of Barmen
Written by Karl Barth and the confessing church in Nazi Germany in response to
Hitler's attempt to politicize and control the church. Many of those involved in
writing and promoting this document were killed along with six million Jews.
UCC
Statement of Faith
This contains the texts of the three authorized versions of the Statement
of Faith of the United Church of Christ.
The
Westminster Confession of Faith
Written by the Westminster Assembly at the call of Parliament. It was written in
the context of the English Civil War and as a response to high church
Anglicanism.
(ICRA)