Why do Trinitarians say thay worship one God as three people? I don't understand how a god and holy spirit can be called "persons". I also don't see how calling the three parts persons rather than gods makes it monotheistic. This all seems like so much trouble to explain a concept when there is nothing wrong with admitting to polytheistic beliefs.
2007-07-19 05:31:44 · 25 answers · asked by Graciela, RIRS 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They say God is broken down into
God
Jesus
Holy Ghost
They form Trinity
2007-07-19 05:33:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is an anthropomorphic way of trying to define the nature of God. It is limited, and equates the three as "persons" when this word is not entirely correct. However, the three are in some respects the same, and in some respects distinct.
The real debate historically has been whether the Holy Spirit is an entity capable of independent thought and action as Jesus was perceived when he walked the earth.
Some insist the Holy Spirit is nothing more than a "force" from the Father, but this ignores much of Scripture, and attempts to dismiss the Holy Spirit as being a witness to Christians and mankind.
What needs to be considered is that man is not like God, therefore man should not assume God is like man in nature.
To help with the concept, a husband and wife are seen in Scripture as being "one" yet we still see two distinct and separate beings or "people." So in what way are the two distinct, and in what way are the two "one"?
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2007-07-19 05:43:26 · answer #2 · answered by Hogie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are trying to understand spiritual things with a carnal mind.
Mormons have polytheistic beliefs. They believe there are many gods...and that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate gods when in fact they are the same God.
The living God has three distinctive essences. God the Father = Spirit in Heaven, Jesus (God in the flesh) walked the earth and the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God/Jesus dwelling within us.
Three essences, one God.
It's like a plant: root, stem and leaves.
You can't have one without the other two to make a whole plant.
Hope that helps.
2007-07-19 05:47:21 · answer #3 · answered by Salvation is a gift, Eph 2:8-9 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think of the trinity like this:
you have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
I can consider myself Mandy the Mother (because I have 2 kids), Mandy the Daughter (because I have a mother) and Mandy the Wife (Since I'm married)
I'm still only one person but I fill the roles of 3 people. No polytheism in my beliefs.
2007-07-19 05:48:47 · answer #4 · answered by Mandy43110 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just as a man can be a father, a son, a husband, etc., and still be only one man, our God can have multiple roles/aspects. The trinity consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the father came to Earth in human form to save mankind as Jesus the son. When Jesus the son sacrificed himself for the sin of mankind he left the Holy Spirit so we could have continuous access through prayer. He is with us always. Hard concept. Hope this helps.
2007-07-19 05:43:09 · answer #5 · answered by Ruby Savannah 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think this is a good analogy:
"About 20 years ago, Dr. Harold Willmington (Liberty University) shared an analogy he had heard with his students, comparing the Trinity to a book. For example, a book has length, width, and thickness. The length is not the book’s width, the width is not the book’s thickness. These three dimensions can be described separately, yet they are connected together. If you remove one dimension, you are no longer describing a book. In the same way, the Godhead has three separate members that are connected together, and if you try to remove one you no longer have the Godhead."
2007-07-19 05:54:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why do you imply disparity where none exist? If God really was three separate beings, as polytheism suggests, then the three would be capable of fighting and arguing.
On the other hand, if you have three different infinite beings, then what is to stop them from merging into one collective mind, with a single, unified, collective goal, especially since they have no physical bodies to prevent such a union?
2007-07-19 06:10:38 · answer #7 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ever wonder God is the Father we belive in.
The Son is the physical self.
The Holy ghost is the inner self.
Ever wonder how living human kind were created as positve and negative.
With positive and negative.
Living human kind became one.
To be the Son of God.
Without the gifts of life to be born again.
How can living human kind be the Son of God?
Ever wonder without the Father how can a mother give birth to a new born child?
Ever wonder why our creator's one new univeral language and one speech were vital for the survival and advancement of living human kind in mastering our creator's universal gifts of life?
Ever wonder why living human kind do not even know how to create books into positive and negative which no living human kind has the power to create books with living words that reproduce the gifts of life with fountain of youth vital for the survival and advancement of living human kind on planet earth.
Living human kind took for granted they were grreat in writting books.
But were writting ghostly stories with ghostly and deadly words.
Ever wonder how a bunch of educated idiots were making a mess and monkey out of the misery of living human kind on planet earth?
Go and knock Exodus and ask Moses.
2007-07-19 05:50:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure about Trinitarians, but in Catholicism the "father, son and holy spirit" create what they call the "holy trinity". Father and son obviously meaning god and jesus. Never heard anyone call them people though. Maybe jesus was a real person, but that's about it.
2007-07-19 05:35:45 · answer #9 · answered by I, Sapient 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm Catholic, and we don't necessarily consider them to be persons, but beings. Each is God, each is an individual. It's confusing, but it's a central part of our faith. It's not that anyone is trying not to sound like a polytheist.. it's just what we believe.
2007-07-19 05:37:19 · answer #10 · answered by olhenry56 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Think of it this way Graciela...
Water exists as ice, water and water vapor. They are all still water. They just exist in different forms.
The idea behind Trinity is similar. God is God is God. But He can exist in physical, human form, in a "spirit" form, as no form at ALL.
Why 3? I don't know. Maybe He could exist in a gazillion different ones...
2007-07-19 05:48:21 · answer #11 · answered by Bryan A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋