How important are Creeds?

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Wed, 06 May 2015 23:14:54 -0400

I personally love the creeds that we memorized, recited and told ourselves that we lived by. Unfortunately, I would see so many, who swore by these Creeds, pick and choose (by the way they lived) what they would actually adhere to within the creed that they loved so much.
My question are:
1. How important are Creeds to you?
2. Should Creeds be lived or just loved?
3. What has been your personal experience when creeds are failed to be lived up to?

Response by SGT Michael Touchet made May 6 at 2015 11:45 PM

SGT Michael Touchet — Wed, 06 May 2015 23:45:42 -0400

I think creeds are about commitment and they serve as an ideal to strive for, they can serve as motivation or to build unity. So I think that they are useful.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 6 at 2015 11:57 PM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 06 May 2015 23:57:42 -0400

Creeds only matter if you believe them and more importantly live them. Saying them and living them are not the same. The creeds I had, I lived by.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 7 at 2015 12:24 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Thu, 07 May 2015 00:24:15 -0400

SSG Selwyn Bodley, one creed in particular is most important to me. It's the creed of Auburn University, which I've been told is the only university in the U.S. to have one (unconfirmed). It's an integral part of the university's psyche, and parts of it are even recited at football games. Auburn alumni try to live up to it. The Auburn Creed goes like this:

I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.

I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.

I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.

I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.

I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.

I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.

I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God."

And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it.

-George Petrie (1945)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 3:48 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 May 2015 03:48:45 -0400

If you don't personally believe or live by whatever the creed says, it just becomes something that you repeat because you are forced to do so. I personally for example don't need a creed to tell me that as an NCO I need to take care of my Soldiers, it already comes with the territory.

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made May 7 at 2015 7:17 AM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Thu, 07 May 2015 07:17:10 -0400

Should creeds be something we strive for as individuals or should they be the standard and something that is expected and enforced (as much as possible)?