To be fair, all these arguments have always been “meh” if you’re not in the faith being argued about. The Sunni-Shia split is “meh” to me (other than from a geopolitical view) because I’m not Muslim. Even if you’re in the faith involved, theological arguments are generally “meh” to the laity. The specifics of what’s orthodox, what’s heterodox, and what’s a heresy as decided upon by a council 1500 years ago, for example, means nothing in secular life and only comes up in religious discussions, and nobody is hot to really restart arguing that the West should accept Arianism, Unitarianism, or Nestorism, for instance.
It’s really more about a combination of hypocrisy and a complete inability to even fake good manners at a public event. If the president was Mitt Romney, I wouldn’t expect him to say the Nicene. I would expect him to be willing to say the Apostles’. If Bernie Sanders was president, I wouldn’t expect him to say any Christian creed. But I’m sure both would be able to show good manners.
I think I have heard the term before now but have no idea what it means. I had a semester of Bible Studies taught by a Priest (it was a requirement to graduate) when I attended a Catholic University but don’t remember this coming up.
Not sure if I can recite it from memory (if I were to attempt it, I’d probably do better in Latin, on account of most choral Masses are written that way, with the caveat that that’s actually the Nicene Creed, a subtly different critter).
Anyway, even if I could, I probably wouldn’t, since I view it as a list of statements that I am asserting a belief in the truth of, and I don’t like to lie. At a public event that I had to attend, I would probably just stand in respectful silence.
Pretty much the way I handle the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Nicene Creed is, of course, part of the Ordinary of the Mass. But the Apostle’s Creed is recited as the opening of the recitation of the Rosary (which most Catholic funerals hold one of the day before).
Only if they believe in those things (which I’m guessing most non-Christians would not - but lots of people believe lots of things, so who knows?) and are ok with saying creeds.
I identify as Protestant and fall into the mostly know it area (it’s never been a weekly thing at the churches I’ve attended, but it is part of the service frequently enough). I cannot recite it word-for-word unprompted, and if I’m not reading it while saying it, I’ll hang back a little to make sure that I haven’t forgotten a phrase or adjective or mixed up the order. I know it well enough that I’ve recognized it in languages that I don’t really speak, but know a few key words in.
Brought up liberal Lutheran, at one had the whole small catechism memorized. That’s forgotten, but I remember the Apostles’ Creed in spite of 50 intervening years of flirtation with shamanism and fairly serious Buddhist practice.
I suppose that a Jew could, in principle, recite the parts about the Father and maybe the Holy Spirit, and stay silent for the parts about Jesus and the Church. But that’d still be a bit odd, and for that matter, Jews aren’t actually required to believe anything.
Certainly a Jew would be expected not to recite the part about Jesus.
I’ve been a member of both Episcopal and ELCA Lutheran churches over the years, and my recollection is of reciting the Nicene Creed weekly, and reciting the Apostles’ Creed only occasionally.
So I don’t have either creed memorized: not the AC, because I’ve rarely said it in eons, and not the NC, because it’s a bit much to memorize.
I’m atheist but I grew up United Methodist and it was said every Sunday so even though it’s been over 20 years since I was in a church I can still recite it from memory.
Lapsed catholic, and I recognize it, but can no longer recite it from memory. Though every time I see this damn thread, I just mutter “Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.”
One weird thing about the Bush funeral coverage: the Creed was often referred to as a prayer.
It’s not. The Creed says things Christians believe about God, referring to God in the third person. Believers address prayers to God, referring to God in the second person. There’s a clear distinction.