My friend says she is a Catholic but does not believe in the Trinity?

Question

I am confused can someone BE a Catholic but not believe in the Trinity?!

I asked her if she believed that Jesus was god, and that he and god the father are one. She said: No Jesus was the son of god but was not god himself.

What denomination is a Catholic like belief that does not believe in the Trinity?

What denomination is a Protestant belief that does not believe in the Trinity?

What (besides JW and Mormon) is ANY Christians belief that does not believe in the Trinity?!

PS: I do not follow any of the Abrahamic (Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jew) religions, but I am learning to understand them since I must share the same planet with them.

There must be a Catholic like non-Triune religion.
Heck Emporer Constantine's sons rejected the Trinity and followed the non-triune teachings of Arius for decades before the decision of Nicea was re-enstated.

Besides there are several newer religions that reject the Trinity (now that it is not grounds for being burned at the stake). There must be at least one Catholic flavored one.

Answer 1

You are correct.

A Catholic must be a Trinitarian, one who beleives in the Holy Trinity.

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is shared by most Christian denominations including Roman and Orthodox Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Episcopalians, and the Salvation Army.

The major non-Trinitarian churches are Christadelphianism, Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Arian Catholicism, Unitarianism , Nontrinitarianism, and Oneness Pentecostals.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity states that God is a single Being who exists, simultaneously and eternally, as three persons: the Father; the Son; and the Holy Spirit. Since the 4th Century AD, in both Eastern and Western Christianity, this doctrine has been stated as "One God in Three Persons," all three of whom, as distinct and co-eternal "persons" share a single Divine nature. How this works is not fully known and is one the the Christian mysteries. There is a story told about St Augustine: Augustine was walking along the seashore trying to figure out the mystery of the Holy Trinity and came up to a little boy. The boy was trying to pour the ocean into a hole in the sand with a seashell. Augustine told the boy what he was doing was impossible. Then the little boy told Augustine that it is also impossible for the mind of man to try to understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Then the little boy turned into an angel and disappeared. With love in Christ.

Answer 3

I've been told by some Catholics that if you don't believe in the Trinity then you are not "true to the faith"... Other Catholics have told me they don't believe in the Trinity, but still believe the Jesus was sent to be their savior, they just don't think he is God. There really are no denominations within Catholicism (unless you wish to go to Lutheran or Protestant, which both branched from the RCC).

wisdombeattentive - then you are one of the very few... I work with a man whom, when I've ever asked questions, has repeatedly told me he can NOT answer because he is not allowed to interpret himself and must go to a priest for the "correct answer". They are, indeed, discouraged from studying theology unless it is a strict Catholic theology.

I know a Deacon's daughter who has said some things concerning this and was followed with a "if they knew I said this, I would be in soooo much trouble".

Answer 4

Your friend can't be a Catholic without having a firm belief in something a central as the Triune Nature of God. There is no rite of the Catholic church that teaches anything other than the Trinity. There is "oneness" pentacostalism, among the protestants, but they believe in modalism, which is one person in God (named Jesus) who manifests himself in three modes-- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Answer 5

forgive my judgemental answer but she is what i would condiser what the bible calls a lukewarn believer. she believes what is easiest to believe. if you read the harry potter books there was one point where the main school headmaster spoke to the main charachter about making choices- you will have to make the choice of that which is easy over that which is right. being a Catholic is NOT easy - there are rules and regluations - just as Christ taught us in the bible. i just try t remind myself they are not as strict as the laws of the OT! we are not dolphins - just coming up and grabbing some faith/air whenever we feel the need - it's all or nothing.

a practicing/true Catholic accepts and understands the concept of the Trinity. we study, listen and pray onthe subject until it becomes clear.

since you are not Catholic and some people hre have given totally off the wall non-knowledgable asnwers.... yes, if your parents are Catholic and have you baptised Catholic you techncally are Catholic. however, you are not practicing and still have yet to fully & verbally on your own proclaim Christ is your Saviour & you reject satan.

Catholics have bible studies and read their bibles. CAtholics have been reading the bibles in daily mass since there was one. however not every personn/fammily owned one - sicne they've been around for over 2000 years there were some some challenges with printing that many copies, affording them, beig able to read and being able to comprehend. thankfully we are more educated in today's day.

I wish i knew which denominations do not believe in the Trinity. I'm sorry i can't help you there. I thank you for asking and trying to learn and understand before you just go about spouting like soooooo many people here do. learning is fun when we let ourselves hey!?!??! :)

thank you for caring about your friend!

Answer 6

Midge - direct and to the point. Funny.

Jesus is God. Scripture is full of references. The disciples didn't seem to wrestle with this. But, if your friend believes that our redemption comes through Jesus, walks according to the Spirit, then I'm sure her belief will have little consequence to her salvation. Rejecting Jesus is not acceptable. I personally don't understand how you could not believe in the Trinity considering the overwhelming amount of scripture pointing to it. And most of all, it fits perfectly with Gods plan. Jesus was not mere man.

I am not Catholic.

Answer 7

Answers

I am confused can someone BE a Catholic but not believe in the Trinity?! .................................................................. No........

I asked her if she believed that Jesus was god, and that he and god the father are one. She said: No Jesus was the son of god but was not god himself. ......................She's confused

What denomination is a Catholic like belief that does not believe in the Trinity?.......................................Why do we have over 20,000 different non-Catholic Christian denominations? The reason is individuals' "different" interpretations of the Bible.

What denomination is a Protestant belief that does not believe in the Trinity?......................................Why do we have over 20,000 different non-Catholic Christian denominations? The reason is individuals' "different" interpretations of the Bible.

What (besides JW and Mormon) is ANY Christians belief that does not believe in the Trinity?!..................................Why do we have over 20,000 different non-Catholic Christian denominations? The reason is individuals' "different" interpretations of the Bible.

To have the Bible as the only and sole authority of Christianity is to invite chaos into the Church. There are at least 5 Protestant denominations created every year based on a different interpretation of the Bible. Theoretically, anyone who owns a Bible can create their own denomination based on their own interpretation of Scripture. Taken to its logical conclusion, chaos is what happens when the doctrine of "Sola Scriptura" is applied. And Christ stated "A tree is recognized by its fruit" (Matthew 12:33) and the doctrine of Sola Scriptura produces "bad fruit" (disunity, confusion and separation).

There is only one God....who came to Earth and became flesh,,this man God called his Son and his name is Jesus...He was fully man and fully God,,Jesus died on that cross for our sins,,,as a man,,,not as God....but a perfect man, witout sin.....and then he ascended to Heaven,,,he sent back his Holy Spirit to indwell each of us, who believe....
There are not three Gods....there is only God,,,,in the flesh as Jesus but still God...the holy spirit is God, period....all God all the time.....there is none other......

Answer 8

No because in the creed of the Catholic church it says "we belive in one God the father almighty maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen" for her not to beive in the trinity is going against the basic and most crucial belifes of the Catholic church.

Answer 9

well, she can be a Catholic by birth only, which means she's just born into it, but she's not a practicing Catholic. obviously she has no understanding about the Church's doctrines. I wouldn't be surprised if one day she leaves Catholicism.

being a Catholic is not in name only. to be a Catholic, one must keep the teachings of the Church and be one with the Church.

there is no such thing as another flavor of Catholicism. the Catholic Church is ONE. if there are people who call themselves Catholics but does not adhere to the Catholic teachings are not in one with the Church, therefore it's better that they leave the Church than stay in it with a heavy heart. Catholicism is not about cherry-picking.

Answer 10

Truth is many Christians do not believe in the trinity, even if they belong to a church that believes in it. I know many Catholics and Protestants who reject the trinity.