Editing Creed

{{Short description|Statement of belief}}
{{About|a statement of belief}}
{{Redirect|Articles of Faith}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Confession of faith|Profession of faith}}
[[File:Nicaea icon.jpg|thumb|[[Icon]] depicting [[Constantine I and Christianity|Emperor Constantine]] (center) and the Fathers of the [[First Council of Nicaea]] (325) as holding the [[Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed]] of 381]]A '''creed''', also known as a '''confession of faith''', a '''symbol''', or a '''statement of faith''', is a statement of the shared [[belief]]s of a community (often a religious community) which summarizes its core tenets.

Many [[Christian denominations]] use three creeds: the [[Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed]], the [[Apostles' Creed]] and the [[Athanasian Creed]]. Some Christian denominations [[#Christians without creeds|do not use any of those creeds]]. 

The term ''creed'' is sometimes extended to comparable concepts in non-Christian theologies. The Islamic concept of ''[[ʿAqīdah|ʿaqīdah]]'' (literally "bond, tie") is often rendered as "creed".<ref name="Halverson">{{Cite book |last=Halverson |first=J. |title=Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam: The Muslim Brotherhood, Ash'arism, and Political Sunnism |publisher=Springer |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-349-28721-5 |location=New York, NY |pages=39 |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The earliest known creed in [[Christianity]], "[[Jesus is Lord]]", originated in the writings of [[Paul the Apostle]].<ref name="Harn2004">{{cite book |last1=Harn |first1=Roger van |title=Exploring and Proclaiming the Apostles' Creed |date=2004 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=9780819281166 |page=58 |language=en}}</ref> One of the most significant and widely used Christian creeds is the [[Nicene Creed]], first formulated in AD 325 at the [[First Council of Nicaea]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hanson |first=Richard Patrick Crosland |title=The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy 318-381 AD |last2=Hanson |first2=R. P. |publisher=A&C Black |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-567-03092-4 |location=London |language=en}}</ref> to affirm the deity of Christ and revised at the [[First Council of Constantinople]] in AD 381 to affirm the trinity as a whole.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Cone |first=Steven D. |title=A Global Church History: The Great Tradition through Cultures, Continents and Centuries |last2=Rea |first2=Robert F. |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2019 |isbn=978-0-567-67305-3 |pages=lxxx |language=en}}</ref> The creed was further affirmed in 431 by the Chalcedonian Definition, which clarified the doctrine of Christ.<ref name=":1" /> Affirmation of this creed, which describes the [[Trinity]], is often taken as a fundamental test of [[orthodoxy]] by many [[Christian denomination]]s, and was historically purposed against [[Arianism]].<ref>[http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/nicene.htm Johnson, Phillip R. "The Nicene Creed."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314061400/http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/nicene.htm |date=2009-03-14 }} Accessed 17 May 2009</ref> The Apostles' Creed, another early creed which concisely details the trinity, virgin birth, crucifixion, and resurrection, is most popular within [[western Christianity]], and is widely used in Christian [[church service]]s.
	
In [[Islam]]ic theology, the term most closely corresponding to "creed" is ''[[ʿAqīdah|ʿaqīdah]]'' ({{lang|ar|عقيدة}}).<ref name="Halverson"/>

==Terminology==
{{See also|Credo}}
The word ''creed'' is particularly used for a concise statement which is recited as part of [[liturgy]]. The term is anglicized from Latin ''credo'' "I believe", the [[incipit]] of the Latin texts of the [[Apostles' Creed]] and the [[Nicene Creed]]. A creed is sometimes referred to as a ''symbol'' in a specialized meaning of that word (which was first introduced to [[Late Middle English]] in this sense), after Latin ''symbolum'' "creed" (as in ''[[Apostles' Creed|Symbolum Apostolorum]]'' = the "[[Apostles' Creed]]", a shorter version of the traditional Nicene Creed), after Greek ''symbolon'' "token, watchword".<ref>Justo L. Gonzalez, ''The Story of Christianity'', 2nd ed., Vol. 1, p. 77.</ref>

Some longer statements of faith in the [[Protestant]] tradition are instead called "confessions of faith", or simply "confession" (as in e.g. [[Helvetic Confession]]). Within [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Protestantism]], the terms "doctrinal statement" or "doctrinal basis" tend to be preferred. Doctrinal statements may include positions on [[lectionary]] and [[translations of the Bible]], particularly in [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] churches of the [[King James Only movement]].{{fact|date=August 2023}}

==Christianity ==
{{Christianity|state=collapsed}}

The first confession of faith established within [[Christianity]] was the [[Nicene Creed]] by the [[Early Church]] in [[325]].<ref>Everett Ferguson, ''Encyclopedia of Early Christianity'', Routledge, Abingdon-on-Thames, 2013, p. 418</ref> It was established to summarize the foundations of the Christian faith and to protect believers from false doctrines. Various [[Christian denominations]] from [[Protestantism]] and [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christianity]] have published confession of faith as a basis for fellowship among churches of the same denomination.<ref>J. Gordon Melton, ''Encyclopedia of Protestantism'', Infobase Publishing, USA, 2005, p. 170</ref><ref>Walter A. Elwell, ''Evangelical Dictionary of Theology'', Baker Academic, USA, 2001, p. 286-289</ref>

Many [[Christian denominations]] did not try to be too exhaustive in their confessions of faith and thus allow different opinions on some secondary topics.<ref>Walter A. Elwell, ''Evangelical Dictionary of Theology'', Baker Academic, USA, 2001, p. 289</ref> In addition, some churches are open to revising their confession of faith when necessary. Moreover, [[Baptist]] "confessions of faith" have often had a clause such as this from the [[First London Baptist Confession]] (Revised edition, 1646):<ref>Barrington Raymond White, ''Pilgrim Pathways: Essays in Baptist History'', Mercer University Press, USA, 1999, p. 275</ref>

{{Blockquote|Also we confess that we now know but in part and that are ignorant of many things which we desire to and seek to know: and if any shall do us that friendly part to show us from the Word of God that we see not, we shall have cause to be thankful to God and to them.}}

=== Excommunication ===
[[Excommunication]] is a practice of the [[Bible]] to exclude members who do not respect the Church's confession of faith and do not want to repent.<ref>Ronald F. Youngblood, ''Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary: New and Enhanced Edition'', Thomas Nelson Inc, USA, 2014, p. 378</ref> It is practiced by most [[Christian denominations]] and is intended to protect against the consequences of [[heresy|heretics']] teachings and [[apostasy]].<ref>Chad Brand, Eric Mitchell, ''Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary'', B&H Publishing Group, USA, 2015, p. 521-522</ref>

===Christians without creeds===
Some Christian denominations do not profess a creed. This stance is often referred to as "non-creedalism".

[[Anabaptism]], with its origins in the 16th century [[Radical Reformation]], spawned a number of sects and denominations that espouse "No creed, but the Bible/New Testament".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1979-biblical-inspiration-authority/#:~:text=Historically,+for+the+Brethren,+it,creed+but+the+New+Testament.%E2%80%9D&text=The+Brethren+followed+both+Anabaptism,in+the+context+of+continuity|title=1979 Biblical Inspiration Authority – Annual Conference}}</ref> This was a common reason for Anabaptist persecution from Catholic and Protestant believers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anabaptistworld.org/of-creeds-and-confessions/|title=Of creeds and confessions|first=Mathew|last=Swora|date=24 April 2019|accessdate=11 March 2023}}</ref> Anabaptist groups that exist today include the [[Amish]], [[Hutterites]], [[Mennonites]], [[Schwarzenau Brethren]] ([[Church of the Brethren]]), [[River Brethren]], [[Bruderhof]], and the [[Apostolic Christian Church]]. 

The [[Religious Society of Friends]], the group known as the [[Quakers]], was founded in the 17th century and is similarly non-creedal. They believe that such formal structures, “be they written words, steeple-houses or a clerical hierarchy,” cannot take the place of communal relationships and a shared connection with God.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://quaker.org/legacy/quip/2005/creeds.htm#:~:text=Creeds+and+Quakers:&text=Quaker+spiritual+authority+lies+not,cannot+replace+this+direct+communion|title=Creeds and Quakers|website=quaker.org|accessdate=11 March 2023}}</ref>

Similar reservations about the use of creeds can be found in the [[Restoration Movement]] and its descendants, the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]], the [[Churches of Christ]], and the [[Christian churches and churches of Christ]]. Restorationists profess "no creed but Christ".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Scott|first1=Harp|title=George A. Klingman|url=http://www.therestorationmovement.com/_states/texas/klingman.htm|website=Restoration History|publisher=Buford Church of Christ|access-date=2015-09-19}}</ref>

The [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]] also shares this sentiment.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=8FRF#:~:text=%27%20After%20a%20preamble%20affirming%20that,church%20generally%20all%20agreed%20upon | title=Creeds }}</ref>

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] contrast "memorizing or repeating creeds" with acting to "do what Jesus said".<ref>"Creeds—Any Place in True Worship?", ''Awake!'', October 8, 1985, ©Watch Tower, page 23, "The opening words of a creed invariably are, “I believe” or, “We believe.” This expression is translated from the Latin word “credo,” from which comes the word “creed.” ...What do we learn from Jesus’ words? That it is valueless in God’s eyes for one merely to repeat what one claims to believe. ...Thus, rather than memorizing or repeating creeds, we must do what Jesus said"</ref>

===Christian creeds===
{{main|List of Christian creeds}}
Several creeds originated in [[Christianity]].
* [[1 Corinthians 15]]:3–7 includes an early creed about Jesus' death and resurrection which was probably received by Paul. The antiquity of the creed has been located by most biblical scholars to no more than five years after Jesus' death, probably originating from the [[Early centers of Christianity#Jerusalem|Jerusalem apostolic community]].<ref>see Wolfhart Pannenberg, Jesus—God and Man translated Lewis Wilkins and Duane Pribe (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1968) p. 90; Oscar Cullmann, The Early church: Studies in Early Christian History and Theology, ed. A. J. B. Higgins (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1966) p. 66; R. E. Brown, The Virginal Conception and Bodily Resurrection of Jesus (New York: Paulist Press, 1973) p. 81; Thomas Sheehan, First Coming: How the Kingdom of God Became Christianity (New York: Random House, 1986) pp. 110, 118; Ulrich Wilckens, Resurrection translated A. M. Stewart (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew, 1977) p. 2; Hans Grass, Ostergeschen und Osterberichte, Second Edition (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 1962) p. 96; Grass favors the origin in Damascus.</ref>
* The [[Old Roman Creed]] is an earlier and shorter version of the [[Apostles' Creed]]. It was based on the 2nd century Rules of Faith and the interrogatory declaration of faith for those receiving [[baptism]], which by the 4th century was everywhere tripartite in structure, following Matthew 28:19.
* The [[Apostles' Creed]] is used in [[Western Christianity]] for both [[Christian liturgy|liturgical]] and [[catechetical]] purposes.
* The [[Nicene Creed]] reflects the concerns of the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325 which had as their chief purpose to establish what Christians believed.<ref>[http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/nicene.htm Kiefer, James E. "The Nicene Creed."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314061400/http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/nicene.htm |date=2009-03-14 }} Accessed 17 May 2009</ref>
* The [[Chalcedonian Creed]] was adopted at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 in Asia Minor. It defines that Christ is 'acknowledged in two natures', which 'come together into one person and hypostasis'.
* The [[Athanasian Creed]] (''Quicunque vult'') is a Christian statement of belief focusing on Trinitarian doctrine and Christology. It is the first creed in which the equality of the three persons of the Trinity is explicitly stated and differs from the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds in the inclusion of anathemas, or condemnations of those who disagree with the Creed.
* The [[Tridentine Creed]] was initially contained in the [[papal bull]] ''[[Iniunctum Nobis]]'', issued by [[Pope Pius IV]] on 13 November 1565.  The creed was intended to summarise the teaching of the [[Council of Trent]] (1545–1563).
* The [[Maasai Creed]] is a creed composed in  1960 by the [[Maasai people]] of East Africa in collaboration with  missionaries  from the [[Holy Ghost Fathers|Congregation of the Holy Ghost]]. The creed attempts to express the essentials of the Christian faith within the Maasai culture.
* The [[Credo of the People of God]] is a confession of faith that [[Pope Paul VI]] published with the ''[[motu proprio]]'' ''Solemni hac liturgia'' of 30 June 1968. Pope Paul VI spoke of it as "a creed which, without being strictly speaking a dogmatic definition, repeats in substance, with some developments called for by the spiritual condition of our time, the [[Nicene Creed|creed of Nicea]], the creed of the immortal tradition of the holy Church of God."

===Christian confessions of faith===
[[File:Andreas Nunzer Übergabe der Augsburger Konfession 1530.jpg|thumb|[[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]] receives the [[Augsburg Confession]] at the [[Diet of Augsburg]] on 25 June 1530]]
Protestant denominations are usually associated with confessions of faith, which are similar to creeds but usually longer.
* The ''Sixty-seven Articles'' of the Swiss reformers, drawn up by [[Zwingli]] in 1523
* The ''[[Schleitheim Confession]]'' of the [[Anabaptist]] [[Swiss Brethren]]  in 1527
* The ''[[Augsburg Confession]]'' of 1530, the work of [[Martin Luther]] and [[Philip Melanchthon]], which marked the breach with [[Rome]]
* The ''[[Tetrapolitan Confession]]'' of the [[German Reformed Church]], 1530
* The ''[[Smalcald Articles]]'' of Martin Luther, 1537
* The ''[[Guanabara Confession of Faith]]'', 1558
* The ''[[Gallic Confession]]'', 1559
* The ''[[Scots Confession]]'', drawn up by [[John Knox]] in 1560
* The ''[[Belgic Confession]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=The Belgic Confession|url=http://www.reformed.org/documents/BelgicConfession.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109220655/https://reformed.org/documents/BelgicConfession.html|archive-date=November 9, 2020|access-date=2013-01-23|publisher=Reformed.org}}</ref> drawn up by [[Guido de Bres]]<ref>{{cite web|date=2000-04-20|title=Guido de Bres|url=http://www.prca.org/books/portraits/debres.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006130349/http://www.prca.org/books/portraits/debres.htm|archive-date=October 6, 2020|access-date=2013-01-23|publisher=Prca.org}}</ref> in 1561
* The ''[[Thirty-nine Articles]]'' of the [[Church of England]] in 1562
* The ''[[Formula of Concord]]'' and its Epitome in 1577
* The ''[[Irish Articles]]'' in 1615<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ford|first=Alan|date=2007|title=James Ussher: Theology, History, and Politics in Early-Modern Ireland and England|url=https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199274444.001.0001/acprof-9780199274444-chapter-5|access-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513152605/https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199274444.001.0001/acprof-9780199274444-chapter-5|archive-date=13 May 2022|url-status=dead|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199274444}}</ref>
* The ''[[Remonstrant Confession]]'' in 1621
* The ''[[Dordrecht Confession of Faith]]'' of Dutch Mennonites in 1632
* The [[1644 Baptist Confession of Faith|Baptist Confession of Faith]] in 1644 (upheld by Particular Baptists)
* The ''[[Westminster Confession of Faith]]'' in 1647 was the work of the [[Westminster Assembly of Divines]] and has commended itself to the [[Presbyterian Church]]es of all English-speaking peoples, and also in other languages.
* The ''[[Savoy Declaration]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=The Savoy Declaration 1658 – Contents|url=http://www.reformed.org/documents/Savoy_Declaration/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526210127/http://www.reformed.org/documents/Savoy_Declaration/|archive-date=May 26, 2020|access-date=2013-01-23|publisher=Reformed.org}}</ref> of 1658 which was a modification of the Westminster Confession to suit [[Congregationalist polity]]
* The ''Standard Confession'' in 1660 (upheld by [[General Baptists]])<ref name="ChuteFinnHaykin2015">{{cite book |last1=Chute |first1=Anthony L. |last2=Finn |first2=Nathan A. |last3=Haykin |first3=Michael A. G. |title=The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement |date=2015 |publisher=B&H Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-4336-8316-9 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''A Catechism and Confession of Faith'' in 1673 upheld by the [[Religious Society of Friends]] (Quakers)<ref name="Coffey2020">{{cite book |last1=Coffey |first1=John |title=The Oxford History of Protestant Dissenting Traditions, Volume I: The Post-Reformation Era, 1559-1689 |date=29 May 2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-252098-2 |page=399 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=A Short Account of the Life and Writings of Robert Barclay |date=1827 |publisher=Tract Association of the Society of Friends |page=22 |language=en}}</ref>
* The ''Orthodox Creed'' in 1678 (upheld by General Baptists)<ref name="ChuteFinnHaykin2015"/>
* The ''[[1689 Baptist Confession of Faith|Baptist Confession]]'' in 1689 (upheld by Reformed Baptists)
* The ''Confession of Faith of the [[Calvinistic Methodists]] (Presbyterians) of Wales''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.creeds.net/cmwales/main.htm |title=Confession of Faith of the Calvinistic Methodists or Presbyterians of Wales |access-date=2013-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706212915/http://www.creeds.net/cmwales/main.htm |archive-date=2018-07-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> of 1823
* The ''[[New Hampshire Confession of Faith|New Hampshire Confession]]'' in 1833 (upheld by [[Landmarkism|Landmark Baptists]])<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Hill |editor-first=Samuel S. |date=1997 |title=Encyclopedia of Religion in the South |edition=Paperback |location=Macon, Georgia |publisher=[[Mercer University Press]] |page=533 |isbn=0-86554-588-X |lccn=97214301 |oclc=37706204 |ol=305677M}}</ref>
* The ''[[Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral]]'' of the [[Anglican Communion]] in 1870
* The ''[[Richmond Declaration]]'' in 1887, upheld by Orthodox [[Gurneyite]] Quakers
* The [[Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths]] in 1916
* The ''[[Confession of Faith (United Methodist)|Confession of Faith]]'' of the [[United Methodist Church]], adopted in 1968

=== Controversies ===
In the [[Swiss Reformed Church]]es, there was a quarrel about the Apostles' Creed in the mid-19th century. As a result, most cantonal reformed churches stopped prescribing any particular creed.<ref>{{HDS|43205|Apostolikumsstreit|author=Rudolf Gebhard|date=27 January 2011}}</ref>

In 2005, Bishop [[John Shelby Spong]], retired [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopal]] Bishop of Newark, has written that dogmas and creeds were merely "a stage in our development" and "part of our religious childhood." In his book, ''Sins of the Scripture'', Spong wrote that "Jesus seemed to understand that no one can finally fit the holy God into his or her creeds or doctrines. That is idolatry."<ref>John Shelby Spong, ''The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love'', Harper Collins, USA, 2005, p. 227</ref>

==Similar concepts in other religions==

=== Latter Day Saint Movement ===
{{main|Articles of Faith (Latter Day Saints)}}

Within the [[List of sects in the Latter Day Saint movement|sects]] of the [[Latter Day Saint movement]], the ''Articles of Faith'' are contained in a list which was composed by [[Joseph Smith]] as part of an 1842 [[The Wentworth Letter|letter]] which he sent to [[John Wentworth (mayor)|John Wentworth]], editor of the ''[[Chicago Democrat]]''. It is canonized along with the [[King James Version]] of the [[Bible]], the ''[[Book of Mormon]]'', the ''[[Doctrine & Covenants]]'' and the ''[[Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)|Pearl of Great Price]]'', as a part of the [[standard works]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].<ref> Morrison, Alexander B., "The Latter-day Saint Concept of Canon", Historicity and the Latter-day Saint Scriptures, Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center </ref>

=== Islamic ''aqīdah'' ===
{{main|ʿAqīdah|Iman (concept)}}

In Islamic theology, the term most closely corresponding to "creed" is ''[[ʿAqīdah|ʿaqīdah]]'' ({{lang|ar|عقيدة}}).{{who|date=August 2023}} The first such creed was written as "a short answer to the pressing heresies of the time" is known as ''Al-Fiqh Al-Akbar'' and ascribed to [[Abū Ḥanīfa]].<ref name=Glasse>Glasse, Cyril (2001). New Encyclopedia of Islam (Revised ed.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 105.</ref><ref name="Abu Hanifah An-Nu^man">{{cite web|last=Abu Hanifah An-Nu^man|title=Al- Fiqh Al-Akbar|url=http://www.aicp.org/SupportingDocs/Al__Fiqh__Akbar_English.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816084611/http://www.aicp.org/SupportingDocs/Al__Fiqh__Akbar_English.pdf |archive-date=2009-08-16 |url-status=live|publisher=aicp.org|access-date=14 March 2014}}</ref> Two well known creeds were the ''Fiqh Akbar II''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/34756601/Al-Fiqh-Al-Akbar-II-With-Commentary-by-Al-Ninowy |title=Al-Fiqh Al-Akbar II With Commentary by Al-Ninowy |access-date=2017-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315081425/http://www.scribd.com/doc/34756601/Al-Fiqh-Al-Akbar-II-With-Commentary-by-Al-Ninowy |archive-date=2014-03-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> "representative" of the [[Ash'ari|al-Ash'ari]], and ''Fiqh Akbar III'', "representative" of the [[Shafi'i|Ash-Shafi'i]].<ref name=Glasse/>

''Iman'' ({{langx|ar|{{large|الإيمان}}}}) in [[Islamic theology]] denotes a believer's religious faith.<ref>Farāhī, Majmū‘ah Tafāsīr, 2nd ed. (Faran Foundation, 1998), 347.</ref><ref>Frederick M. Denny, ''An Introduction to Islam, 3rd ed., p. 405''</ref> Its most simple definition is the belief in [[Iman (concept)#The six pilars of faith|the six pilars of faith]], known as ''arkān al-īmān''.
#[[Tawhid|Belief in God]]
#[[Islamic view of angels|Belief in the Angels]]
#[[Islamic holy books|Belief in Divine Books]]
#[[Prophets in Islam|Belief in the Prophets]]
#[[Yawm al-Qiyāmah|Belief in the Day of Judgement]]
#[[Predestination in Islam|Belief in God's predestination]]

===Jewish ''Shema Yisrael''===
{{See also|Jewish principles of faith}}

[[Rabbi]] [[Milton Steinberg]] wrote that "By its nature Judaism is averse to formal creeds which of necessity limit and restrain thought"<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last1=Steinberg|first1=Milton|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iBu5Tpc4DtcC&q=Judaism+has+never+arrived+at+a+creed|title=Basic Judaism|last2=World|first2=Harcourt, Brace &|date=1947|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|isbn=978-0-15-610698-6|pages=35|language=en}}</ref> and asserted in his book ''Basic Judaism'' (1947) that "Judaism has never arrived at a creed."<ref name=":0" /> The 1976 Centenary Platform of the [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]], an organization of [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] rabbis, agrees that "Judaism emphasizes action rather than creed as the primary expression of a religious life."<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Tenets of Reform Judaism|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-tenets-of-reform-judaism|access-date=2020-11-19|website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref>

Still, the opening lines of the prayer [[Shema Yisrael]] can be read as a creedal statement of strict [[monotheism]]: "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One" ({{langx|he|שמע ישראל אדני אלהינו אדני אחד}}; [[Romanization of Hebrew|transliterated]] ''Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shema - Judaism 101 (JewFAQ) |url=https://www.jewfaq.org/prayers_shema |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.jewfaq.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Shema |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-shema |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Opening of the Shema Prayer Explained |url=https://www.brandeis.edu/jewish-experience/holidays-religious-traditions/2022/may/shema-explained-kimelman.html |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.brandeis.edu |language=en}}</ref>

A notable statement of [[Jewish principles of faith]] was drawn up by [[Maimonides]] as his [[13 principles of faith|13 Principles of Faith]].<ref>"Maimonides' Principles: The Fundamentals of Jewish Faith", in ''The Aryeh Kaplan Anthology, Volume I'', Mesorah Publications, 1994</ref>

==Religions without creeds==

Following a debate that lasted more than twenty years, the National Conference of the [[American Unitarian Association]] passed a resolution in 1894 that established the denomination as non-creedal.<ref>{{cite book |title=Our Unitarian Universalist Story: A Six-session Program for Adults |last=Meyer |first=Carol D. | editor1-last=Anastos |editor1-first=M. Elizabeth | year=1996 |publisher=Unitarian Universalist Association |location=Boston, Mass |isbn=978-1558963429 |page=41|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lqUw4dVBPWYC&pg=PA41 |access-date=February 23, 2023}}</ref>  The Unitarians later merged with the [[Universalist Church of America]] to form the [[Unitarian Universalist Association]] (UUA).  Instead of a creed, the UUA abides by a set of principles, such as “a free and responsible search for truth and meaning”.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles |title=Principles| publisher=Unitarian Universalist Association | access-date= February 23, 2023 }}</ref>  It cites diverse sources of inspiration, including Christianity, Judaism, [[Humanism]], and [[Earth religion|Earth-centered traditions]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/sources |title=Sources of Our Living Tradition| publisher=Unitarian Universalist Association | access-date=February 23, 2023 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Covenant (religion)|Covenant]]
* [[Credo]]
* [[Mission statement]]
* [[The American's Creed]] – a 1917 statement about Americans' belief in democracy
* [[The Five Ks]]
* [[Pesher]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''Christian Confessions: a Historical Introduction'', [by] Ted A. Campbell. First ed. xxi, 336 p.&nbsp;Louisville, Ky.: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1996. {{ISBN|0-664-25650-3}}
* ''[http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300093919 Creeds and Confessions of Faith in the Christian Tradition]''. Edited by Jaroslav Pelikan and Valerie Hotchkiss.  [[Yale University Press]] 2003.
* ''Creeds in the Making: a Short Introduction to the History of Christian Doctrine'', [by] [[Alan Richardson (priest)|Alan Richardson]]. Reissued. London: S.C.M. Press, 1979, cop. 1935. 128 p. {{ISBN|0-334-00264-8}}
* ''Ecumenical Creeds and Reformed Confessions''. Grand Rapids, Mich.: C.R.C. [''i.e''. Christian Reformed Church] Publications, 1987. 148 p. {{ISBN|0-930265-34-3}}
* ''The Three Forms of Unity (Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, [and the] Canons of Dordrecht), and the Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles' Creed, the Athanasian Creed, [and the] Creed of Chalcedon)''. Reprinted [ed.]. Mission Committee of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, 1991. 58 p. Without ISBN

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{EB1911 poster|Creeds}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180706190546/http://creeds.net/ The Creeds of Christendom] – A website linking to many formal Christian declarations of faith.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070819040856/http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/christian-history.html#creeds Creeds and Canons] – A Guide to Early Church Documents from Internet Christian Library
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928022644/http://www.internationalcreedforpeace.co.uk/ ICP Website International Creed for Peace]

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[[Category:Christian genres]]
[[Category:Religious terminology]]
[[Category:Statements of faith| ]]