Earth Creed
In Episcopal services, a.k.a. Mass in the Catholic Church, the Nicene Creed is usually said. On certain Sunday's this may be changed to the closely related Apostles version. I am uncomfortable with either of these.
As I write this webpage it is Earth Day, 2009. It is appropriate then for me to write about an "Earth Creed". It is taken from "Mass of the Sonoran Desert and Mountains" composed by William Campbell and the Church of the Apostles in Tuscon, AZ.
We recently did a version of this Mass in our Education for Ministry theology class for three of our graduates. It was modified a little to fit our natural environment. The Collect used was actually composed by one of the graduates, Wendy Ross, from one generated from our class on a theological reflection of mine from my 2004 Vision Quest to the desert of Big Bend, Texas. (You can read the beginnings of this story on my Lajitas Lizard and the Bandido: Dancing with God in the Desert webpage. This will be the first chapter of a book by the same title on which I am currently working.)
First, as a theological reflection, I would like to "reflect" just a little on the Nicene Creed and my discomfort with it.
Nicene Creed
I have a great deal of difficulties with both this and the closely related Apostles Creed. These were generated by the early church fathers of the fourth century (325 CE).
As expounded on by theologian, The Honorable Bishop, John Shelby Spong
in his book, Rescuing
the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks the Meaning of
Scripture
As a scientist, especially as an evolutionary biologist and geneticist, I have great difficult with concepts like virgin birth (maybe I will do another theological reflection on this from the standpoint of genetics), resurrection of the physical body and many other references in these creeds. Even reading the Creed metaphorically, I do with great difficulty. The result is that I am usually silent during this part of the service.
At a conference several months ago I had the opportunity to ask theologian, John Dominic Crossman, about the creed. Aside from my problems with the Creed, my comment was to the effect that these early Fathers were very literal. They were trying to literally lay out what the Christian church believed. Their words were chosen with great care. They were not being metaphorical.
Crossman is a member of the Jesus Seminar and would be classified as a
liberal theologian. He is the author of such books as, The
Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant
Dominic's comment was to the effect of, "Well, first of all it had to be metaphorical to some degree. As for instance, 'The right hand of God'. They didn't believe God actually had a right hand."
I personally don't agree. I think they probably did think God had a right hand. They were after all incredibly patriarchal (God, after all was a man), and anthropomorphic in their thinking.
His next statement helped a little more: "Even if they weren't being metaphorical, doesn't mean you can't be." OK, but I was still not happy. He had a good point on this one though.
Anyway, enough of this let me move on, from the Mass...
Opening Prayer
O Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me. I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made. Make my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught your people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than another, but to fight my greatest enemy--myself.
Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.
--Anonymous prayer of a Native American
The Creed of Caring for the Earth
We have faith in one God, one Source of all life,
One Ground of the whole earth, with all its creatures.
And thus we believe in the goodness of earth's life,
in the innate worth of all its dependents, in human partnership, in the life of nature.
And thus we believe that in Christ we have been shown the special role of the human race to bear God's likeness in working and caring for the earth, in seeking to understand its mysteries and powers, in gently working with these posers for the well-being of all children of the earth.
And thus we believe that God's Spirit will lead us to sensitive closeness with earth's life, to that meek, unselfish and compassionate life-style by which the earth is inherited in peace, by which its life is transformed for all creatures to share justly in its bounty.
So be it. Amen.
Dr. Y "Thinks" Index
Christ--who was he?
Strange Piece of Ass Syndrome
Christian heresies
Baby boomers are dancing on...
e
A
Wild Ride
Dannion Brinkley
Circumcision
Why Vision Quest?
Vision
Quest 1998
Enlightenment
on a Harley
God, faith and the Recession
Breakfast Blessing
The Closet
God as my GPS
Descartes and Christianity
Health Care Reform and Christianity