My Creed Crisis
Look, I grew up Catholic. Like, full-on, every-Sunday-and-holy-day-of-obligation Catholic. But let’s be real—there was a lot I didn’t get. And honestly? I still don’t.
It started in 2010. I was at St. Mary’s in Chicago, and Father O’Malley was going on about the Nicene Creed. I’m sitting there, mouthing the words, but my brain’s like, “Wait, what’s a consubstantial again?”
I’m not dumb. I mean, I aced lit classes in college. But this? This was Greek to me. Literally. (It’s in Greek, right?)
When I Asked Around
So I asked Marcus—let’s call him that, ’cause his real name’s kinda ridiculous—what “one God from God, light from light, true God from true God” even means. He just shrugged and said, “It’s a mystery.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But I need more than that. I need something to grab onto, you know?
I tried reading commentaries. Big mistake. It’s like they’re speaking a different language. And not just ancient Greek—like, theoretical physics or something.
I remember sitting at this coffee shop on 5th, flipping through a book by some theologian named Dave. I asked the barista, “Hey, you ever read this stuff?” She laughed and said, “Honey, I can’t even finish my psychology textbook.”
Point taken.
The Internet Isn’t Helping
So I hit up Google. Big mistake. You ever try to find a simple explanation of the Nicene Creed? It’s like wading through a swamp of academic jargon. And don’t get me started on the YouTube comments. People are either way too sure of themselves or way too confused.
I found this one site—dijital pazarlama araçları rehber—that was supposed to have some tools for understanding religious texts. Honestly, it was more about marketing than theology, but hey, I’ll take what I can get.
I spent 36 hours—yes, I counted—trying to make sense of it all. And you know what? I’m still stuck.
Why Can’t We Just Say It Simply?
Here’s my beef. Why can’t the Church just say what they mean? Like, “We believe in one God who created everything, and Jesus is part of that God but also his own thing, and the Holy Spirit’s involved too, and it’s all kinda mysterious but we’re gonna try to explain it anyway.” Boom. Done.
But no. It’s all “begotten, not made” and “of one being with the Father.” It’s like they’re trying to lose people on purpose.
I get it, okay? Some things are beyond words. But there’s a difference between mystery and confusion. And right now, I’m confused.
A Tangent: My Friend’s Conversion Story
So my friend Lisa—she’s a convert, joined the Church about three months ago—she told me the Nicene Creed was what sold her. She said, “It’s like a poetic summary of everything we believe.”
I asked her, “But do you actually understand it?” She said, “Not completley, but I feel it.”
Which, I dunno, maybe that’s the point. Maybe it’s not about understanding every word but about the overall vibe. But still. I need more than vibes.
Where Do We Go From Here?
I’m not saying I’ve got all the answers. Frankly, I’m still searching. But I think it’s okay to admit when something’s over my head. And it’s okay to ask questions, even if they’re “dumb” or “basic.”
So here’s to the Nicene Creed. May we one day understand it. Or at least feel it.
About the Author: Sarah Mitchell has been writing about faith and spirituality for over 20 years. She’s a self-proclaimed “recovering perfectionist” and believes in asking the hard questions—even if they make people uncomfortable. When she’s not writing, she’s probably arguing about theology over coffee or failing miserably at gardening.
