Chaplain Bans Creed to be “More Inclusive”

>The logic of this misguided notion of “inclusion” can easily lead to a slippery slope. After all, why stop with dropping the Creed? Aren’t some people offended by references to Jesus as Lord? Or to any reference to Jesus at all? What about atheists who are offended by the word “God”? What about persons who object to the perceived “cannibalism” of the Eucharist, or who object to the norm that baptism precedes the “right” to receive communion? Or what about excluding sacred writings from other religious traditions from Christian worship? Doesn’t a closed canon exclude and pass judgment on other religious persons?

Yes, and????
This is ‘Liberalism’ we’re talking about.  Liberals are ultimately atheists.

I suppose that as a chaplain, if I were leading a non-denominational prayer service for a group of Christians of mixed denominations, I might omit the Apostles’ Creed. Some groups, e.g. Southern Baptists, simply do not say creeds.

The larger question of praying in the Name of “God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” is hugely controversial among chaplains, particularly when non-Christians (observant of their own faith) are present.

I am often asked to say grace before group meals when folks at work have a Christmas (or other) party at someone’s home. This group may well have Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus. Some are observant, some are not. I decided a long time ago to use the usual Trinitarian references - just as I would do at a church dinner. Nobody has told me that they are offended, and I keep getting asked to do it…

However, the Bishop of Exeter, Patrick Mercer, observes in the article, “If you go to an Anglican Church service you expect to hear an Anglican service. I think the good reverend is being a little too precious.”

I agree completely - this is very “Wrong-On, Rev.”

BTW, take a look at that cope. Quite precious. I’m jealous.

Liberals of a “Christian” bent may often end up atheists but it seems usually via pantheism to monism to atheism.

>Liberals of a “Christian” bent may often end up atheists but it seems usually via pantheism to monism to atheism.

Agreed.  But since their ideological starting point is a mix of Darwinism and Marxism (conscious or not - there is such a think as an unconscious, inducted ideology) it’s only a matter of time.

The most excellent Philip Johnson pointed out how, ultimately, liberals are atheists who just haven’t worked it out yet.

I sometimes wonder if liberals recognize that if the early Church believed what the liberals believe, nobody would know about Jesus now, for he would simply have joined the pantheon and become a minor figure (if that) in it.

PC Nazis are mostly just whiners.

Offended that I pray within my church’s tradition publicly?  Boo hoo!  Get over yourself and stop trying to force your understanding of “tolerance” on me.

Snivel boxes…

-Jim+

>I sometimes wonder if liberals recognize that if the early Church believed what the liberals believe, nobody would know about Jesus now, for he would simply have joined the pantheon and become a minor figure (if that) in it.

A very interesting point.  What you say is certainly true but it’s made me think about how liberals think on this point.  Ultimately, I think, because liberals deny the authority of scripture and see it as, effectively myth, or part myth and part contaminated fact, that regard really regard ‘Jesus’ as a somewhat mythical figure, a best a teacher who inspired some followers, from which a contaminated religion grew up.

To the liberals I think it goes a bit like…

Jesus was this great inclusive teacher/social worker/activist who was, like, really into inclusiveness and being, like, really nice to people and had a great sex life with Mary Magdaline. He may have been crucified, though that’s probably metaphorical, along with the Resurrection, but it’s (to coin a phrase) a *bitchin’ metaphor.*  If he did die for real, well, it just goes to show what a great metaphor it was, somehow.

It was the disciples, especially St Paul, who corrupted this social work, groovy message, and introduced this whole religious thing and Christianity grew up.  The liberals are retracing the steps to the ‘historical Jesus’ which is effectively a non-religious Jesus.

So I think they kinda have a JW approach to history in that there was a great apostacy in which religion took over this social message.  Of course, they do not have a JW approach to the Bible where JW’s are absolute wooden literalists (except, where they’re not.)

So I think the Liberals are a bit “Well, actually Jesus really *should* be, at best, one of the Pantheon but those darn followers of his turned him into a ruddy full blown Deity.”  So now they’re trying to restore Jesus to his ‘original’ status as a really great social worker/political activist. Hence the constant lowering and de-divinising of the Christ and removing anything explicitly religious from life such as Creeds.

That’s my consideration. Just mulling really.

One should remember that Chaplains in the military do not exist to advance Truth.  They exist to meet the needs of military members.  The purpose of the Chaplaincy is neither to evangelize nor disciple, but to help make happy, productive soldiers.  It is relentlessly anthropocentric, and completely indifferent to the competing claims of different World views.  This kind of story surprises me not at all.  The Chaplaincy is a shadow of its former self, and I can hardly see why a Christian would participate in the charade.

carl

Carl,
Some of them do it because they are called to feed the sheep who most feel their own hunger.

The ‘Chaplaincy’ may be (and likely is) just as you describe, but I have known Chaplains who were Ministers of the Gospel to those in harm’s way.

Every chaplain whom I ever knew in all of my years of military service….and there were plenty of them….was a faithful man of God.  It didn’t matter what their religious affiliation was….Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish….every one of them served the men and women entrusted to their care, and that included their families.  It was an Air Force chaplain, an Episcopalian whose views were orthodox, who led my wife and me into the Church 45 years ago.

Reminds me of the story of the four chaplains.  So there was these two Protestant chaplains, a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi, see?  And they were on a ship called the Dorchester which was torpedoed by a U-boat and began to sink.  They handed out their lifejackets and helped calm the men and gave up their places in the lifeboats to others.  Last seen, they were linked arm in arm praying for the care of others.  They went down with the ship.  Do you remember the postage stamp with their pictures?  http://www.immortalchaplains.org/Story/story.htm