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I am currently teaching an Intro to Philosophy Course at our local community college, as I have done a lot of intellectual work preparing for this class, it has inspired a lot of creativity. I will be writing a series of essays around some philosophical concepts each week. Here is a link to my first of these essays:\u00a0https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveopensdoors\/2024\/04\/who-we-can-love\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A creedal faith is one that declares a certain set of beliefs based on a statement of the shared beliefs of a community in a form which is structured by subjects which summarize its core tenets. For Christians, creeds define the boundaries of what we believe. They serve as our identification. Creeds are not limited to religion. Schools around the world have their alma maters, military units have their creeds and secret societies have their creedos. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As we will see in the next paragraph though, our beliefs can be fluid and changing. With change comes conflict. Today, with the rise of non-religiously affiliated, it may be easy to think that one can\u2019t have a creedal faith. I would challenge and disagree. I later in this essay suggest a Platonist (https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/plato\/<\/a><\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0dialogue with oneself to determine what one agrees to believe in. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We are hearing a lot of chatter and seeing a lot of literature these days concerning the act of deconstruction, especially from a faith perspective. Indeed, it seems that the number of people who identify as not religiously affiliated or \u201cnones\u201d is increasing. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The idea of asking questions about our faith is not a new phenomenon nor is the idea of deconstruction. The philosopher Jacques Derrida is considered the main thinker of this concept. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to Pragati Kalive (https:\/\/www.sociologygroup.com\/deconstruction-theory\/<\/a><\/span>\/<\/span><\/a> )<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Deconstruction theory, derived from the works of philosopher Jacques Derrida, is a theory <\/span> of literary analysis that opposes the assumptions of structuralism. Its primary purpose is to <\/span> discern the relationship between text and meaning (Kalive, 2021)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Deconstruction for Derrida was a means to explore the relationship between text and meaning. His work \u201casserts that meaning is not static and instead continually evolves and varies across time and space\u201d. (Kalive, 2021)\u00a0This is important linguistically because language is always changing and meaning also changes year to year. For example, the word gay meant something completely different in 1904 than it does in 2024. In biblical studies, contextual criticism is important, and one must consider the socio-political and historical context in which something was written. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While I could probably write a whole essay on Derrida\u2019s thoughts on deconstruction, I will end this section by pointing out that Derrida challenges our Western assumptions of binaries. I would add that we need to consider earlier forms of Platonist dialogue and consider instead of binaries, what something is or who someone is. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If we consider then how our language changes as our society changes, that our language and its meaning is always in a state of flux and we apply the structure I have provided, reimagining Wesley\u2019s Quadrilateral, then I think we can have a creedal faith after deconstruction. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Almost every morning, I pray the hours and the Apostle\u2019s Creed is part of these hours. It was in a recent reflection that I came up with this post idea. <\/span>\u00a0But do I still believe or affirm everything that this creed contains? Absolutely not. So many of my life experiences have left me questioning or even rejecting the language<\/em> of the creed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I believe in God,<\/span> I believe in the Holy Spirit,<\/span> Amen.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In my version, I drop much of the patriarchal and imperialistic language of this creed. I also drop some of the mythos around Jesus. In my current walk, I feel that we are too wrapped up in Jesus\u2019 divinity to the point that we don\u2019t focus on his humanity.<\/p>\n Wesley\u2019s Quadrilateral<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Approaching this from John Wesley\u2019s point of view, we consider what the bible, tradition,\u00a0reason and finally what experience tells us about our faith. The problem is that Wesley conceived this concept in the 18<\/span>th<\/span> century and for many modern people, especially for the audience this essay is intended for, little or none of what is listed in the creed above may have any relevance, though here is where we can begin. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rohr drops reason. Rohr considers his model a tricycle and focuses on tradition, scripture and experience. He says that we spent 500 years trying to be rational without being rational. Rohr tells us that experience drives the bike and is backed up by tradition and scripture. It is felt that this gives us a better way to deconstruct our faith. In our world today, experiences are everything. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I want to introduce for the sake of argument that alongside of experience, we must consider relativism. In our deeply polarized world today, it is felt that at the moment, there are just some issues that we are not going to agree on. Experience and Relativism allow one to fully own their faith. Faith is simply a subjective experience of divine reality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A place of spiritual maturity understands this and when one accomplishes this, we can live together with more peace. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you are lost on your path to faith. If you still want to believe, but are not sure how or if you can, understand that you are on the right path. Faith is not absolute and unchangeable. Faith changes as you change. Your language of faith changes as you change. Spiritual maturity is a lengthy process that seldom accomplish. Stay to the path, discern and discover.<\/p>\n Kalive , P. (2021, July 22). <\/span>Jacque Derrida\u2019s Deconstruction Theory \u2013 Explained<\/span><\/i>. Sociology Group. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from\u00a0https:\/\/www.sociologygroup.com\/deconstruction-theory\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Rohr, R. (n.d.). <\/span>Another Way to See the Bible: Lesson 4 The Tricycle: Scripture, Tradition, Experience<\/span><\/i>. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from\u00a0https:\/\/cac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/The-Bible_Lesson-4_The-Tricycle-Scripture-Experience-and-Tradition.pdf<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Turner , C. (2016, May 27). <\/span>Jacques Derrida: Deconstruction<\/span><\/i>. CLT. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from\u00a0https:\/\/criticallegalthinking.com\/2016\/05\/27\/jacques-derrida-deconstruction\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is a Creedal Faith<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Jacques Derrida and Deconstruction<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
A Creedal Faith After Deconstruction<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
The original Apostle\u2019s Creed\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
\nthe Father almighty,<\/span>
\nCreator of heaven and earth,<\/span>
\nand in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,<\/span>
\nwho was conceived by the Holy Spirit,<\/span>
\nborn of the Virgin Mary,<\/span>
\nsuffered under Pontius Pilate,<\/span>
\nwas crucified, died and was buried;<\/span>
\nhe descended into hell;<\/span>
\non the third day he rose again from the dead;<\/span>
\nhe ascended into heaven,<\/span>
\nand is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;<\/span>
\nfrom there he will come to judge the living and the dead.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nthe holy catholic Church,<\/span>
\nthe communion of saints,<\/span>
\nthe forgiveness of sins,<\/span>
\nthe resurrection of the body,<\/span>
\nand life everlasting.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nRichard Rohr Drops Reason<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Relativism Instead of Reason<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Reference<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n