Anglican Catechism: An Outline of the Faith (Jesus, Creator, Moses)

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Actually, Laurie, I do have one question: Where and how did the Book of Common Prayer originate?

The short answers are England and starting with the reform under King Henry the VIII (1549). It's gone through many revisions, the most recent being the 1979 version. Wiki has a summary of this (naturally) and here is history written in 1912 about the BCP (I've not read this book, just found it in my search).

More importantly is what the BCP is:

The Book of Common Prayer

Unique to Anglicanism, though, is the Book of Common Prayer, the collection of worship services that all worshipers in an Anglican church follow. It’s called “common prayer” because we all pray it together, around the world. The first Book of Common Prayer was compiled in English by Thomas Cranmer in the 16th Century, and since then has undergone many revisions for different times and places. But its original purpose has remained the same: To provide in one place the core of the instructions and rites for Anglican Christians to worship together.

The present prayer book in the Episcopal Church was published in 1979. Many other worship resources and prayers exist to enrich our worship, but the Book of Common Prayer is the authority that governs our worship. The prayer book explains Christianity, describes the main beliefs of the Church, outlines the requirements for the sacraments, and in general serves as the main guidelines of the Episcopal life.

Thank you for your question!

[lunamoth]

Another bit about our approach to religion:

Scripture, Tradition, and Reason

The Anglican approach to reading and interpreting the Bible was first articulated by Richard Hooker, also in the 16th Century. While Christians universally acknowledge the Bible (or the Holy Scriptures) as the Word of God and completely sufficient to our reconciliation to God, what the Bible says must always speak to us in our own time and place.

The Church, as a worshiping body of faithful people, has for two thousand years amassed experience of God and of loving Jesus, and what they have said to us through the centuries about the Bible is critical to our understanding it in our own context. The traditions of the Church in interpreting Scripture connect all generations of believers together and give us a starting point for our own understanding.

Episcopalians believe that every Christian must build an understanding and relationship with God’s Word in the Bible, and to do that, God has given us intelligence and our own experience, which we refer to as “Reason.” Based on the text of the Bible itself, and what Christians have taught us about it through the ages, we then must sort out our own understanding of it as it relates to our own lives.

[lunamoth]

The Creeds

Q: What are the creeds?
A: The creeds are statements of our basic beliefs about God.

Q: How many creeds does this Church use in its worship?
A: This Church uses two creeds: The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed.

Q: What is the Apostles' Creed?
A: The Apostles' Creed is the ancient creed of Baptism; it is used in the Church's daily worship to recall our Baptismal Covenant.

Q: What is the Nicene Creed?
A: The Nicene Creed is the creed of the universal Church and is used at the Eucharist.

Q: What, then, is the Athanasian Creed?
A: The Athanasian Creed is an ancient document proclaiming the nature of the Incarnation and of God as Trinity.

Q: What is the Trinity?
A: The Trinity is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

[FerventGodSeeker]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Scripture, Tradition, and Reason

The Anglican approach to reading and interpreting the Bible was first articulated by Richard Hooker, also in the 16th Century. While Christians universally acknowledge the Bible (or the Holy Scriptures) as the Word of God and completely sufficient to our reconciliation to God, what the Bible says must always speak to us in our own time and place

Hi Luna! Long time no see! I'm so happy that you made this thread! It's awesome to have Episcopalian/Anglican representation here at RF; I love seeing your posts in defense of the Christian Faith. I probably sound like I'm coming on to you or something, LOL, but I'm not ; I'm just excited when people love God, you know?
Anywho, my first question is: This explanation states that the Anglican approach to Scripture was first articulated in the 16th century...By this do you mean fully and explicitly articulated? I'm assuming you draw on early Church teachings to establish/explain your teachings? Are there any ECFs (Early Church Fathers) whose writings you find particularly Anglican or Episcopalian?

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by FerventGodSeeker

Hi Luna! Long time no see! I'm so happy that you made this thread! It's awesome to have Episcopalian/Anglican representation here at RF; I love seeing your posts in defense of the Christian Faith. I probably sound like I'm coming on to you or something, LOL, but I'm not ; I'm just excited when people love God, you know?

Thank you FGS. Coming on to me? Lol! Happy to see your enthusiasm.

Anywho, my first question is: This explanation states that the Anglican approach to Scripture was first articulated in the 16th century...By this do you mean fully and explicitly articulated?

I think this quote is referring to the idea that the approach of reliance upon Scripture, Tradition, and Reason was first articulated in the 16th century. I'm not sure what else you mean. The Book of Common Prayer has been changed since it was first written.

I'm assuming you draw on early Church teachings to establish/explain your teachings? Are there any ECFs (Early Church Fathers) whose writings you find particularly Anglican or Episcopalian?

Yes, the early Church teachings are part of Tradition. As for any ECFs whose writings may have especially influenced the Anglican tradition? Not that I am aware of.

Thank you for the questions!

luna

[GloriaPatri]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

This is a very interesting thread, Laurie. I don't really have any questions, but have enjoyed hearing about your religion. I actually know almost nothing about the Episcopal Church. I was struck by how similar some of our beliefs are, and by how different others are. Since this is not a debate thread, I'm just going to take it all in and learn from you.

The Anglican Church has much in common with the Roman Catholic Church. When it split with the Roman Catholic Church they left most things untouched.

[FerventGodSeeker]

Originally Posted by GloriaPatri

The Anglican Church has much in common with the Roman Catholic Church. When it split with the Roman Catholic Church they left most things untouched.

I was hoping you wouldn't open that can of worms....Luna, plug your ears!

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by FerventGodSeeker

I was hoping you wouldn't open that can of worms....Luna, plug your ears!

ROFL! Well, I like to think that Anglican has the best of both the Catholic and Reformed flavors of Christianity.