Quote:
Originally Posted by AnthonyB
Thanks for those who responded, 100% (4 of 4) socail trinitarians but maybe Christians who post on an LDS forum aren't a good sample. Although I would point out the responders came from various traditions (ie Catholic, Lutheran, Pentecostal and Restoration Movement) I will take questions 1-4 to a Christian forum I post on to see what response I get, my expectations would be around 80% of Christians are socail trinitarians.
Misshalfway,
I'd even admit the LDS Godhead is more logical and easier to explain. The problem for me is that I can't personally see it as biblical. (I'm not wanting a verse war on this, there are plenty of these already on this topic on this forum) The Bible ((OT and NT) and the BoM as well) repeatedly has statements that for me testify about God being one God but it then also personifies and diefies all three persons.
LDS perceive God as man glorified, non-LDS Christians see God as in another category altogether. By firmly placing God in the same species (for want of a better word) as man, LDS precieve a united multi personal being as impossible. Non-LDS Christians see God as a different species. Just as I don't expect a dog to understand the complexities of humans, I don't expect humans (like myself) to fully understand the complexities of God.
I hope this doesn't offend people but I feel many LDS hedge on this. The will say there is one God and that the Bible and BoM clearly testify to this. Then they will say but really there are three Gods or many Gods. Just as I feel that non-socail trinitarians underplay the distinctive personhood of each of the three persons, LDS IMHO underplay the unity of Godhead. I see this as a reaction against what you have percieved as the under appreciation of the personhood of the persons of God by trinitarians. LDS so often from what I've seen, when confronted with trinitarianism immediately begin defending the seperate personhood within the Godhead. Actually there is IMHO much less difference in this area between LDS and non-LDS Christians than both sides think.
The big divide between us IMHO is whether God and man are the same species. From that the different perceptions of God, man, eternal destinies, continued gender differentiation, God having a physical home and many other differences all spring from.
|
I think you describe the differences very well, Anthony. The Trinity confuses me for many reasons. And I don't think that I could ever be persuaded to believe it. But I do appreciate your willingness to describe the belief. I can't say that my questions have been satisfied, but as you all seem to agree, the parts that can't be answered are part of the mysteries of God. It feels like you all accept that ambiguity and that it somehow makes your faith stronger. As long as God is different from man, he is superior to man. I think from that perspective, I can see how the LDS view may seem like we are diminishing the greatness or power of God by identifying with him.
Anyway, I thank you again for attempting to answer. And I think at the end of the day, what really brings us together is our desire to please God and our heartfelt belief in something beyond our earth and ourselves.