Andrew,

Some good thoughts there! But I’m still not convinced. To me DBs and perhaps also the creeds seem representative of a church on the defensive. Often in the face of theological confusion we construct a belief as a measure of orthodoxy.

However, I think theological confusion can be a good thing, in so far as it allows us to explore different ideas and think through things.

DBs sometimes sound to me like ‘these are the answers, read and agree’ Can we ever truly have such a nice clean end point to theological interpretation? Will we ever tap into an absolute source of truth and that we can write down, sign and kick back in satisfied doctrinal purity?

To me an end point just sounds like the end of thought, progress and creativity. Would it be possible for us to move on from defensiveness in order to explore, build and create theological understandings that can be reinterpreted continuously in the light of culture, expriences and new ideas and thinking?

Of course it makes things a lot less simple than if everyone just bands together around a theological statement that unites us. But perhaps making more space for thought, discussion, disagreement and dissent might lead us into a time of fresh thinking, creativity and new understanding.

Another idea - would it be possible to state the story in a way that communicates kosher practices far above kosher doctrine? This seems to me to be in line with Christ’s teaching, for example, he points to the Good Samaritan as an example of what it means to follow him & love our neighbours. To first century Jewish ears that must have sounded unbelieveable - the Samaritan was a hated heretic, not an example of righteousness. Do we need to retell those kinds of stories instead of writing doctrinal bases?

A while back we discussed the creeds in a church group I go to. There were people there who were uncomfortable even with the catholic creeds! But someone did manage to come up with an example of a creed that emphasised love and justice rather than doctrinal correctness that pretty much everyone was very happy with…could we adopt this sort of creed rather than a doctrinal statement?

The People’s Creed

I believe in a colour blind God
Maker of technicolour people
Who created the Universe
And provided abundant resources
For an equitable distribution among all people.

I believe in Jesus Christ
Who was ridiculed, disfigured, and executed,
Who on the third day rose again and fought back;
He storms the highest councils of men
Where he overturns the iron rule of injustice.
From henceforth he shall continue
to judge the hatred and arrogance of men.
I believe in the Spirit of Reconciliation,
The united body of the dispossessed;
The communion of the suffering masses,
The power that overcomes the dehumanising forces of men
The resurrection of personhood, justice and equality,
And in the triumph of Brotherhood.
(Canaan Banana)

Any more thoughts?

Ruthie