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Author Topic:   The Meaning Of The Trinity
tudwell
Member (Idle past 5969 days)
Posts: 172
From: KCMO
Joined: 08-20-2006


Message 55 of 1864 (389994)
03-17-2007 11:14 AM
Reply to: Message 51 by ringo
03-16-2007 8:51 PM


Ringo writes:
If you're going to distinguish between "gods" and "true gods", you're back to the problem of human understanding again. How can you tell who is a "true" god and who is not?
I think a lot of this discussion could be cleared up if we take into account that early Hebrews were probably henotheistic; that is, they believed in a multitude of gods but worshiped only one.
So when Delta says:
Delta writes:
But Torah always said that there was only a tru God
He's not that far off.
Henotheism is sometimes viewed as a stepping stone from polytheism to monotheism. The Hebrews lived in an area that had a huge pantheon of gods, but they selected one god to worship as their 'true' god (which they would eventually view as the only god). How or why they chose that god, I can't say. (In fact, there's probably more than one god described in the Bible that was assimilated into a single God.)

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 Message 51 by ringo, posted 03-16-2007 8:51 PM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 56 by Phat, posted 03-17-2007 11:38 AM tudwell has replied
 Message 59 by ringo, posted 03-17-2007 12:17 PM tudwell has replied

  
tudwell
Member (Idle past 5969 days)
Posts: 172
From: KCMO
Joined: 08-20-2006


Message 61 of 1864 (390004)
03-17-2007 12:42 PM
Reply to: Message 59 by ringo
03-17-2007 12:17 PM


Oh, thanks Ringo. That post really clarified things. I guess I should have read the whole thread before replying.
As to the topic, I've never really understood the Trinity, nor believed in it, so I can't really offer any explanations.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 59 by ringo, posted 03-17-2007 12:17 PM ringo has replied

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 Message 62 by ringo, posted 03-17-2007 12:53 PM tudwell has not replied

  
tudwell
Member (Idle past 5969 days)
Posts: 172
From: KCMO
Joined: 08-20-2006


Message 63 of 1864 (390006)
03-17-2007 1:03 PM
Reply to: Message 56 by Phat
03-17-2007 11:38 AM


Not henotheism
Phat, I don't know where you got that source, but it seems to have a completely different definition of henotheism than any I've encountered.
sofiatopia writes:
HENOTHEISM : One in all Divine Beings & all Divine Beings as One
From the Greek "hen" and "theos", The One God.
Divine Beings or Powers cause the created order to come into being. They are expressions, Self-manifestations or theophanies of one and the same great God. These Supreme Beings, transcending and/or coinciding with the natural order, are interconnected, spring from a common source (before or simultaneous with creation), are not co-eternal from the beginning, do form a concerted Divine order, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Although each has its own specific, irreducible domain, cooperation, interchanges and adjustments between these remains possible, although not necessary.
This definition, specifically the very first sentence, is nothing like the 'believe in multiple gods, but worship only one' henotheism I'm familiar with. In fact, this definition almost seems to be a possible explanation of the Trinity. Any thoughts, anyone?

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 Message 56 by Phat, posted 03-17-2007 11:38 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 64 by Phat, posted 03-17-2007 1:13 PM tudwell has replied
 Message 73 by Chiroptera, posted 03-18-2007 4:50 PM tudwell has not replied
 Message 75 by anastasia, posted 03-19-2007 3:11 PM tudwell has not replied

  
tudwell
Member (Idle past 5969 days)
Posts: 172
From: KCMO
Joined: 08-20-2006


Message 66 of 1864 (390009)
03-17-2007 1:34 PM
Reply to: Message 64 by Phat
03-17-2007 1:13 PM


Re: Not henotheism
I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to say, but if I read you correctly, then your post has more to do with actual henotheism than with the definition I pasted in my previous post. I'd be interested in pursuing that topic, but I think it's off topic here.
I do have a question, though: Do you think the (poor) definition of henotheism I posted in Message 63 is an accurate description of how you or others might view the trinity?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 64 by Phat, posted 03-17-2007 1:13 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
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