Do you have a credo?

For my English class I had to research and share my thoughts about credos. I liked the whole idea of a credo as I read about it. I'd like to think that underneath the layers of me, the mommy, the wife, the friend, the reader, - all of it's influenced by my core beliefs about the world and why we are here, that although I haven't written one yet, you can look at my life and see what my credo would say. The following is a portion of what I wrote.

I think a credo is a fascinating way to look at belief. As I did this research it was interesting to see so many different belief systems, working toward good things, but different end goals. 
As I interpret my research a credo is a statement of religious belief. I really enjoyed this statement by Jaroslav Pelikan "But, at some point, you have to be who and what you are in the only culture in which you're ever going to live, the only century in which you're going to live and die, and, in that century, you have to answer with whatever linguistic and philosophical equipment you have, you have to answer the question: "Who do you say that I am?"" This embodies the idea of a creed for me. We have to decide for ourselves, as some point in our lives, what is really worth spending our time, energy and resources on. Without some kind of belief system we can be buffeted about by any change in the political, social, or emotional climates that are all around us.
If we use the definition that a credo is a religious belief then it's hard to imagine bad intent. That being said, I have no doubt that countless people have excused their bad behaviors or choices with their so called religious beliefs.  In that way credo can be divisive rather than positive forces for good.
 In an interview on "The Need for Creeds," Jaroslav Pelikan suggests, "in the darkest hours of life, you've got to believe something specific, and that specification is the task of the creed, because, much as some people may not like it, to believe one thing is also to disbelieve another. To say yes is also to say no." Would you agree that human societies need creeds?
I do agree with his assertion that we all need creeds. Because what I think he is really saying is we need something to believe. Nor do I argue with Pelikan's statement that to believe in one thing is to disbelieve another. I think that this is a universal truth.  The key for me is to understand my beliefs, and to share them as they are welcomed, but to let go of judgement for those that do not believe as I do.  Am I always successful? No. I wish I was. Will I keep trying? Yes. Because that is part of my unwritten credo. 

Brenda