I don't get the Trinity

[Nightingale]

I understand how people think of how it works but i don't get how they can just absolutely call it fact when really its a theory, a way of trying to understand the infinity of God. Can some one try and clarify it for me?

[7Believer]

St. Patrick used a clover to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity in Ireland. It has three leaves, but it's still one plant. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all individuals, yet they act as one. You know how something you control only does what you want it to do? Well, what if you wanted that something to make it's own decisions? In this way, that something would still only do what you wanted it to do, yet would still be doing whatever it wanted to do as well. If you wanted it to choose for you, it's choices would be your choices, even if you were in control of it. God has given us free will, allowing us to choose whether or not we want to serve Him. If we do, we do not forfeit our free will. We can still make our own choices, and still be doing what God wants us to do at the same time. This is how we would act as one.

[Nightingale]

I get how people think it works but i don't get how they came to the conclusion that this is the nature of God. Nowhere in the bible does he say that he is three. And, even with your good explanation, it still sounds like polytheism.

[Guardian7347]

I get how people think it works but i don't get how they came to the conclusion that this is the nature of God. Nowhere in the bible does he say that he is three. And, even with your good explanation, it still sounds like polytheism.

Here's the best way I can think to explain it. Let's say Mr. X works as a bouncer in a club. Being a bouncer requires a certain mentality, toughness, and rough personality. And that's who Mr. X IS...at least when he's there. Let's say he also volunteers at a suicide prevention hotline. This calls for a completely different approach. You have to listen more than you talk, be understanding, and be caring. And that's who Mr. X IS...at least when he's there. Now, when he's not at either place, he's at home with his wife and child. This calls for an approach that's part bouncer and part counsellor, and that's who he is with them, along with the personal side of himself that he only shares with his family. All three aspects come from the same man, but people from the club wouldn't recognize the man at home nor would the hotline people recognize the bouncer. If man can be multi-facetted, how much more can an omnipotent God be so?
While the bible never explicitly states that God is three, there are many references to it. In genesis, God says "Let US make man in OUR own image..." alluding to the fact that even before his birth, Christ was with the father and the Holy Spirit. The disciples were instructed to go out and baptize "in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit", putting all three on the same level. On several occasions, Jesus placed himself on the same level as the father, stating they were one and the same, so it would make sense for him to tell the disciples to baptize in his name as well as that of the father. For him to place the Holy Spirit in that same statement, implies that the Holy spirit is also an equal part of the equation.
There are other references, but those two are the easiest to remember and explain.

[The Eagle]

While the bible never explicitly states that God is three, there are many references to it. In genesis, God says "Let US make man in OUR own image..." alluding to the fact that even before his birth, Christ was with the father and the Holy Spirit.

the hebrew understanding of the hebrew text is that of god is not three - but one and one only, not split up and no trinity of course. the usage of the plural terms used for god, for instance the first lines of the old testamant actually read "in the beginning there were gods". the language and context used was not that there were more than one god - but the term used depends on what god was doing. for isntance if god was creating many different things then the plural term was used - so the term used was dependant on the interaction of god.

the plural usage of god of course was taken a few thousand years later by christians as "proof" that a demi god existed before he was born.....

in terms of the trinity concpet it has been described well so far. i will just throw in the orignal trinity just because i can - mother, father, child. - far be it for me to suggest christainity took a pagan idea and used it for thier own means though....

[Guardian7347]

While the bible never explicitly states that God is three, there are many references to it. In genesis, God says "Let US make man in OUR own image..." alluding to the fact that even before his birth, Christ was with the father and the Holy Spirit.

the hebrew understanding of the hebrew text is that of god is not three - but one and one only, not split up and no trinity of course. the usage of the plural terms used for god, for instance the first lines of the old testamant actually read "in the beginning there were gods". the language and context used was not that there were more than one god - but the term used depends on what god was doing. for isntance if god was creating many different things then the plural term was used - so the term used was dependant on the interaction of god.

the plural usage of god of course was taken a few thousand years later by christians as "proof" that a demi god existed before he was born.....

in terms of the trinity concpet it has been described well so far. i will just throw in the orignal trinity just because i can - mother, father, child. - far be it for me to suggest christainity took a pagan idea and used it for thier own means though....

NO! FAR be it from you to suggest such a thing!
In all fairness to the Hebrews, they also disavow Christ as the long-awaited Messiah. I believe their peculiar viewing of the plural form of God was as a response to those who see it as proof of the trinity. Fortunately, belief or disbelief in the trinity isn't a show-stopper.

[The Eagle]

well you can understand it. the hebrews had thier understanding from god about god and then a few thousand years later someone pipes up and says:

"what you have believed for the last few thousand years - what god told you about god - you got it wrong. oh and this messiah you have been waiting for, that god told you about - you got that wrong too. he doesnt have to actually fulfill the prophecies god told you about before, oh and also he is not just a man but a god, the son of god, god in the flesh - something that god told you was not god before i know but you got it wrong. did i tell you also has a spirit? - its not the same spirit of god as you understood it - but this spirit is different from god, and god in the flesh but he is the same. its definitelty not three gods mind its still one - i know i described three and it looks like i am splitting god up but god said god was one. you mistook "one" to mean "one" - why would you do that!?

but anyway we will erect statues and have idols of god in the flesh and bow down to them - yes i know god told you that it was wrong before but hey that was so last millenia - its peachy now! basically what we are going to do is concentrate on god in the flesh because when you think of it these three aspects of god - i would say about 90% of god is actually god in the flesh, the spirit of god god is actually god in the flesh's spirit - not god the fathers spirit. what you mistook as 100% of god - (i know god told you that was the case - but you got it wrong) - only represents about 10% - you silly sausages. oh by the way its ok to eat sausages now. another thing you got wrong - when god told you not to eat sausages, you mistook it to mean "do not eat sausages" - when in fact god meant its ok to eat sausages.

that basically sums up christainity's view toward the hebrews. lol.

[Guardian7347]

While not an entirelyaccurate depiction, it's close enough to get the gist across. I'm not faulting the Jews at all. Sometimes, once you get into that "somewhere in the future" mindset, it's hard to break it and think that right now may be the future! That's kinda what happened with the Hebrew people. Besides, if someone who looked like an average citizen rolled up to you in a 2007 Honda civic claiming to be the long-awaited messiah, I think even the most devout would have a hard time buying his story.

[The Eagle]

thats because he is obviously going to turn up in a hybrid! lol

i know what will happen with our modern day society - the messiah will come but it will be a woman. messiahess. (although probably just stick to messiah as messiahess sounds like its associated with rudolf hess - not the best connection with a jewish messiah!)

i can see it now though - the woman messiah - i think i will call her Jessie, will be accepted as jesus' second coming by some and there will be a break off group from christianity that will say gender realignment has always been part of gods plan.

[VenusInChains]

What? A FEMALE MESSIAH???? THIS IS BLASPHOMY!!!!

Next thing you'll be tell us that the world is round.

[The Eagle]

What? A FEMALE MESSIAH???? THIS IS BLASPHOMY!!!!

Next thing you'll be tell us that the world is round.

the world being round is a belief currently held as truth by me, just as the world being flat is a belief held as truth by others. lol.

people take the idea that female divinity is missing from the trinity - but that has only happened because of the time it was written. in my opinion it is a reprocussion of personifying god i.e. if you make god a person you have to make god male or female.

but then - to make jesus a woman 2000 years ago wouldnt of worked due to the society about at the time. so perhaps god was biding his/her time............. oooohhhh...... hell - Jessie might be born tomorrow since its Friday 13th!

[VenusInChains]

Well I guess if God decided to incarnate him/herself again, there wouldn't be anything wrong with picking a female body for it. I just have a mindset that it will be a man called Jesus. So thankyou for opening my mind to another possiblity. There is some guy in Australia already parading around claiming he is Jesus and his girlfriend is Mary Madgalene and they are teaching spirituality rather than Christianity. I kinda wonder, some people think he is genuine but a lot think he is fake cause he isn't married and doesn't follow "Christian" beliefs.

Anyhow back to the origianl post, I have mentioned this in another thread that a Christian explained to me that the trinity was like water, water vapor and ice. All three are the same thing but in different forms. In a way it does make sence to me, but I have never understood what Holy Spirit is. I grew up with a Catholic faith and while I young I actually thought the trinity was Mother/Father/Child because so much emphises was placed on the importance of Mary.

[Guardian7347]

I have mentioned this in another thread that a Christian explained to me that the trinity was like water, water vapor and ice. All three are the same thing but in different forms.

I like it! Good way to relate it I think.

[Nostalgic]

St. Patrick used a clover to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity in Ireland. It has three leaves, but it's still one plant. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all individuals, yet they act as one. You know how something you control only does what you want it to do? Well, what if you wanted that something to make it's own decisions? In this way, that something would still only do what you wanted it to do, yet would still be doing whatever it wanted to do as well. If you wanted it to choose for you, it's choices would be your choices, even if you were in control of it. God has given us free will, allowing us to choose whether or not we want to serve Him. If we do, we do not forfeit our free will. We can still make our own choices, and still be doing what God wants us to do at the same time. This is how we would act as one.

I don't beleive in it but this is probably the best explanation ive heard so far.

[Nightingale]

I think that since this way of thinking basically sprang up out of nowhere for people, I won't particularly be adopting it, but thanks

[akasha]

I think the trinity is like being different person but all of three are divine in essence.

my