Can I change the words of the Apostles Creed?

[Tamsulosin]

It would be a slight change. I do not feel correct repeating something I do not understand. I am referring to the line “is seated at the right hand of the Father.” Being the Father, a “spirit God,” how can the Son “be seated” at his right side? “He ascended into heaven and is with the Father” is what I want to say. But, what does the Chuch say about Catholics changing the words of the prayers? I would not change the Our Father ever though!

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

No, you cannot change the words of the Apostles Creed to tailor it to your personal beliefs. By the Creed, we profess the belief of the Church and our agreement with that belief; properly speaking, we do not profess our own personal beliefs. I encourage you to make an act of faith that the Church is wiser than you and knew what it was doing when it formulated the Creed in just the words that it chose. St. Augustine once said:

Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.

I think your question stems from a misunderstanding of the nature of language. The words, “seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,” are not intended to suggest that God has a right hand or that the Son is seated next to him. The anthropomorphic language indicates the Son’s power and his authority in relation to the Father. As a side note, it is also incorrect to refer to the Father as “a spirit God.” He is God (not “a God”) and is pure spirit (not “a spirit God”).

As a rule of thumb, it would be wise to remember that before one attempts to improve upon the beliefs of the Church, he should first endeavor to fully understand those beliefs.

Recommended reading:

God Has No Body
What Spirits Are and Aren’t by Frank Sheed