The most high-minded protest sign seen during the Pope’s visit to the UK:
For those unfamiliar with filioque, here is a quick overview from Graham Cole:
Filioque: Lat., “and from the Son.” Refers to the procession of the Spirit within the triune Godhead. Added to the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed in the West without Eastern Church approval. According to Eastern theology, the Spirit proceeds from the Father alone. A key point of contention between creedal Western churches and Eastern ones, especially since the split of A.D. 1054.
HT: Scotteriology via Euangelizomai
How do you think we western Christians should approach the filioque clause? Is it a necessary dogma, or is it open to debate?
My opinion: this is splitting hairs. This dogma is not a critical component of salvation.
Heh.
I’ve been amused this weekend at how flexibly Paul swaps around the terms in the space of just two verses in Romans 8:9-10:
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
I don’t see how it would be essential to salvation, but I think it’s almost undeniably implied by biblical teaching.