The Diocese of Niagara’s Rev. Wayne Fraser wants to ditch the Nicene Creed because it promotes “old science” and says the world is flat.
The Creeds, of course, make no scientific claims at all. What probably disturbs Rev. Wayne’s sensibilities is the Creed’s insistence on the miraculous, such as the Virgin Birth and Resurrection.
Miracles are only a problem for materialists who believe the universe is a closed system; for those of us who think God is free to act as an agent in his own creation – that may well not include the Rev. Wayne – miracles are no less scientific than the free act of any human agent.
Rev. Wayne also thinks the Creed should engage in modern dance with scientific knowledge, so I don’t think we should pay much attention to anything he says.
From here (page 9):
There’s so much old science reflected in the Creed that does not jive [he means “jibe”] with what we know today about the universe. The ancient concept of a three-tiered world, to begin with. And a flat earth.
The Nicene Creed teaches us to believe in “one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” Is that in the Bible? No. What good does it do? It does not make much difference to most people’s lives. If we are still considering the role of the Nicene Creed in the Christian church after 1,700 years, still fretting about ideologies, we have missed the point.
“If we are still considering the role of the Nicene Creed in the Christian church after 1,700 years, still fretting about ideologies, we have missed the point.”
Isn’t that what he is doing?
If the Nicene Creed is out-of-date, let the universal church meet to develop a new creed.
How precisely can a creed be “out of date”? Truth is either eternal or it is not truth, surely?
Considering the leadership in the Diocese of Niagara they might as well have a Mickey Mouse creed as if the so-called clergy follow the so-called bishop they have no foundation whatsoever. The only god they believe is one of their own making.
Their creed is convenience and obedience; to do what suits them, right or wrong; and to obey the powerful in their time and country.
It’s not so surprising anymore.
Increasing numbers of people are waking up to the fact that liberal clergy are actually sophisticated unbelievers. They may wear the vestments; they may have a degree under their belt; they may be able to talk theology and religion until the cows come home. But they are not enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and have not received the faith and the renewing of the mind that characterises a true convert.
Thus, in their materialism, humanism, and scientism they do exactly what the unbelievers do: they attack the necessary and distinctive (and saving) parts of the Faith, since it is always the devil’s purpose to get men marching to hell, and to have those he has deceived try and take as many others along with them as possible.
Their atheism and scepticism is an elaborate one, of course, since they purport to have some spirituality – even a superior spirituality – which turns out, on examination, to be deified social politics. But the end result is the same. An atheist denies the Nicene Creed and mocks it with the same vigor, and ironically on the same basis, as this clergyman.
At least an atheist is honest enough to give an unabashed testimony to his unbelief.
Saxasalt, if you do not already write for any orthodox publications, I hope at some point you will do so.
The atheists I personally know never mock religion. I suppose I know a better class of atheists.
Excellent assessment, my friend. You have exposed the elephant in the closet.