Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Trinity as Proof of God

I’ve heard the argument made by Christians that the concept of the Trinity is so unique to Man’s experience, so outside the realm of human comprehension and understanding, that it stands as proof of God. Then reason rears its head and spoils everything.

The concept of trinity didn't originate with Christianity. It was a Hindu concept long before Christianity (the three personages of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva in ONE God, as shown at right). The Egyptians and ancient Greeks also had a trinity concept. The theme of trinity, albeit non deity related, was a Platonic theme as well. The early Christians were aware of this. Combine that with the fact that Christian scripture (the “Word of God”, don’t forget) is devoid of the term Trinity, and that "three personages in one God" was ratified and adopted by the church at the Council of Constantinople in 381 C.E. ... by VOTE, and how anyone could perceive Trinity as anything else but a man made invention co-opted by the early Christians is beyond me.

There were all kinds of doctrinal decisions & edicts made from the 4th through 8th centuries in an effort to define the supernatural/natural qualities of Jesus, and establish a single dogma from many prevailing views. Trinity was just one of them. Is it anymore a mystery as to how Trinity was created than how a god with two faces, or one with four arms, or one that sprang from the head of another was conceived? Are any beyond the realm of human comprehension / imagination? Isn’t each one of those gods outside our "experience"?

As for it being outside our understanding, it’s on a par with any unusual fictional concept. Do any of us understand the forces, biology, natural laws or mechanisms that allow Superman to fly, or have x-ray vision, or superhuman strength? Do we require an understanding of how Prometheus’ liver regenerated each day so it could be torn out and eaten the next? Do we even bother to give it a second thought? Is it worthy of consideration? Is it proof of supernatural? Not if you still have possession of your ability to think rationally.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The camel asked: "Do any of us understand the forces, biology, natural laws or mechanisms that allow Superman to fly, or have x-ray vision, or superhuman strength?"

Well respected sci-fi author Larry Niven (and atheist) wrote a bit on this subject which you can read about here titled "Man of Steel,
Woman of Kleenex":
http://www.rawbw.com/~svw/superman.html

Not exactly on point, but I thought you all would appreciate it.

Cheers
-Fastthumbs

Dromedary Hump said...

Heheh...yeah. Thats more than I ever wanted to know about Superman's sexlife or lack there of, and the physics of the sex act by a superhuman being.