I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I can't get into the pile-on of President Trump for failing to recite the Apostles Creed at HW Bush's funeral.
The guy is a classic upper class nominal Protestant of his generation. He doesn't have and never acquired the cultural capital to make appropriate noises during a liturgical church service. That makes him normal among privileged mid-20th century US Protestants for whom church was a social signifier, not a source of inspiration, values, or ethics. And he certainly doesn't have a glimmer about what that particular little formula is supposed to mean.
The creed is not a prayer. It's a laboriously negotiated 5th century philosophical statement designed to give Christians something to hold on to while they argued about the nature of God and humans. Though widely formally recited by multiple flavors of Christians, our credulous media would be hard put to find many people outside academia who look to it a source of meaning for their beliefs.
Let's bash Trump for the harm he inflicts on people, not for flunking at performing church.
4 comments:
Again, much to think about. The President's father was Lutheran, his mother was Presbyterian. And he attended Marble Collegiate Church when he was young, but not on a regular basis anymore.
Regular recitation of the Apostles' Creed must depend on denomination. I know it's (almost) never recited in Baptist churches. (Yet, Clinton and Carter, both former Southern Baptists, recited the Creed.)
At least Trump never said this.
Like you, I wondered about this and went looking for what you'd be saying. I've never heard it recited in a funeral. I would not say it either as it is stating a set of beliefs that I couldn't commit to. Heck, when I was baptized in the Catholic Church, I don't recall it being asked. It seems weird to me that it was used in this situation. So many people though say whatever they are told. Only the Carters likely have lived it.
I should have said I don't know about Michelle's religious views.
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