In post-Nicean Christianity, the trinity became the core part of theology. Now, I am not completely sure of this interpretation, but I think it sums up the overall concept:
The personalities of Father, Son, and Spirit are considered separate manifestations of an equally transcendent and immanent theos, or Deity, which exists equally on the material plane (universe) and on an immaterial plane (heaven).
The Spirit is the most raw and core manifestation of the Deity, which permeates all matter and material reality and equally exists on a separate plane of existence. A good metaphor is like sunlight going through a glass window- the sun (deity) is on the outside of the window (immaterial reality), and most of the rays of light (divinity) are blocked and absorbed by the glass (barrier between material and immaterial reality); however, some light gets through, and warms and enlightens the room (material reality).
The Father is the Deity when laying down the law and interacting with material existence abstractly, i.e Old Testament. The Son is the Deity when interacting with material existence personally, i.e New Testament.
Now, Judaism, from which Christianity developed, had a very strict view of theology. God, and even more previously the Semitic pantheon, was viewed as strictly transcendent. It existed as a concrete entity with a particular manner of acting and behaviours, and was separate from the mortal plane entirely.
Christianity, which developed later and in a much more religiously pluralist environment, seems to have picked and mixed other religious ideas. This goes beyond simple holy days and absorbing cultures. They seem to have absorbed the very Indo-European Pagan concept of a triune deity. That is, a deity figure which has three manifestations, but is part of a single One and Whole. This is almost exclusive to Indo-European religions, and is a very foreign concept to Semitic religions, including the very unitarian views of Judaism and Islam, and the highly personalised pantheons of Egyptian polytheism. Other examples of triune figures in Indo-European traditions include the trimurti godhead in Hinduism which splits into Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva; and the mother goddess of Celtic mythology, which splits into the hag Cailleach, the winter queen Beira, and the youthful Brigid.
The trinity is, therefore, an inherently Pagan concept, and is entirely irrational and misplaced in a Semitic-derived religion such as Christianity.
Opinions? Concurrences? Rebuttals?
Discuss.
The personalities of Father, Son, and Spirit are considered separate manifestations of an equally transcendent and immanent theos, or Deity, which exists equally on the material plane (universe) and on an immaterial plane (heaven).
The Spirit is the most raw and core manifestation of the Deity, which permeates all matter and material reality and equally exists on a separate plane of existence. A good metaphor is like sunlight going through a glass window- the sun (deity) is on the outside of the window (immaterial reality), and most of the rays of light (divinity) are blocked and absorbed by the glass (barrier between material and immaterial reality); however, some light gets through, and warms and enlightens the room (material reality).
The Father is the Deity when laying down the law and interacting with material existence abstractly, i.e Old Testament. The Son is the Deity when interacting with material existence personally, i.e New Testament.
Now, Judaism, from which Christianity developed, had a very strict view of theology. God, and even more previously the Semitic pantheon, was viewed as strictly transcendent. It existed as a concrete entity with a particular manner of acting and behaviours, and was separate from the mortal plane entirely.
Christianity, which developed later and in a much more religiously pluralist environment, seems to have picked and mixed other religious ideas. This goes beyond simple holy days and absorbing cultures. They seem to have absorbed the very Indo-European Pagan concept of a triune deity. That is, a deity figure which has three manifestations, but is part of a single One and Whole. This is almost exclusive to Indo-European religions, and is a very foreign concept to Semitic religions, including the very unitarian views of Judaism and Islam, and the highly personalised pantheons of Egyptian polytheism. Other examples of triune figures in Indo-European traditions include the trimurti godhead in Hinduism which splits into Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva; and the mother goddess of Celtic mythology, which splits into the hag Cailleach, the winter queen Beira, and the youthful Brigid.
The trinity is, therefore, an inherently Pagan concept, and is entirely irrational and misplaced in a Semitic-derived religion such as Christianity.
Opinions? Concurrences? Rebuttals?
Discuss.
