Een geloofsbelijdenis als een trouwbelofte: Het belang van Speech Act Theory voor de theologie

The author illustrates the relevance of speech act theory for theology by showing its relevance to the interpretation of the Apostles’ Creed. Many people take this creed as a series of constatives; by saying the creed one asserts the truth of these factual statements. The author argues that this baptismal creed is primarily commissive rather than constative, and that praying the creed is more like the making of marriage vows than like stating beliefs. Confessing God as Father means promising to trust God like a Father. Confessing a holy church means promising to contribute to the holiness of the church. Confessing a Catholic church means committing oneself to contribute to the growth of the church. Etcetera, etcetera.