Another attempt at describing the Trinity

[AnthonyB]

I have been thinking of alternative ways of describing the Trinity, or at least getting some of the concepts across.

Firstly idea is the rainbow, it is made of one essence or substance "light". It has several expressions or witnesses of it self as different colours, which although they can be referred to individually there is no way to partition them because they are not seperate but form a continuum so that a distinct line could never be drawn where one colour begins and the next ends. Despite the fact that they are not divided they are still distinct colours within the one entity of rainbow.

The second illustration is from Sci-Fi, so those who are not into that genre the following will make little sense, I will also preference this section that is was designed to just give an alternative to the prevailing LDS perception of 1 person in 1 being with an example of another way of divising things without explicitly being applicable to the trinity. The Borg in Star Trek are an entity, with a single shared conciousness, they inhabit multiple bodies and each Borg unit knows that it say 1 of 7 or 2 of 7 but that it is also part of a coporate consiouness. In many ways the Borg are described as being 1 personal consiousness in multiple bodies.

[Canuck Mormon]

Even though I am a Sci-Fi fan and love Star Trek, I just can't see God as the Borg.

I like your first explanation, it explains a lot.
Thanks AnthonyB

[Maureen]

Hey AnthonyB - very creative analogies!

M.

[WillowTheWhisp]

A Catholic priest once explained it to me like a shamrock with the three leaflets being part of one leaf - I still don't think that explains God though because I believe they are individuals like us and there is no way we can be joined and be part of a greater whole with 2 other people. I am me. I'm a member of a family and we are all the one family but we are still seperate people and that to me is a better analogy of the relationship between Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.

[Stampede]

Originally Posted by Canuck Mormon

Even though I am a Sci-Fi fan and love Star Trek, I just can't see God as the Borg.

I like your first explanation, it explains a lot.
Thanks AnthonyB

If i remember correctly, Wasn't that lucifer's plan? we have no free-will but we do what we are told with no choice in the matter?


AnthonyB.

No matter how much you describe the trinity. It will never make sense to me, not out of ignorance, but because i know it is incorrect.

[AnthonyB]

Stampede,

Given that historical statements made by LDS people are so often decontextualized and then held to ridicule, I would hope that you out of courtesy wouldn't return the favour.

LDS see a strong nexus between person and being, 1 person to 1 being. The borg example was not in anyway an attempt to describe God but to give examples of other ways of seeing the connection between person and being.

If you read the DrewM post on test proofs for the Trinity and then read my reply, you'll see I have no intention of persuading you from your beliefs, I'd agree that is something best left to the Holy Spirit. However I have seen a number of LDS misrepresent trinitarian belief and whether your belief it true or not, and even if it makes no sense to you, understanding properly someone elses view is a great to decrease the misunderstandings and even antagonizism that has existed between LDS and traditional Christians.

[pushka]

Originally Posted by AnthonyB

I have been thinking of alternative ways of describing the Trinity, or at least getting some of the concepts across.

Firstly idea is the rainbow, it is made of one essence or substance "light". It has several expressions or witnesses of it self as different colours, which although they can be referred to individually there is no way to partition them because they are not seperate but form a continuum so that a distinct line could never be drawn where one colour begins and the next ends. Despite the fact that they are not divided they are still distinct colours within the one entity of rainbow.

I like this analogy..

The second illustration is from Sci-Fi, so those who are not into that genre the following will make little sense, I will also preference this section that is was designed to just give an alternative to the prevailing LDS perception of 1 person in 1 being with an example of another way of divising things without explicitly being applicable to the trinity. The Borg in Star Trek are an entity, with a single shared conciousness, they inhabit multiple bodies and each Borg unit knows that it say 1 of 7 or 2 of 7 but that it is also part of a coporate consiouness. In many ways the Borg are described as being 1 personal consiousness in multiple bodies.

Now this one made me giggle, having seen episodes and the film featuring The Borg...

God's new Plan...'You will be assimmilated!'

I'm only joking Anthony! I was brought up a Roman Catholic, and have had the Trinity explained to me a number of different ways, and it still baffles me...however I do find it difficult to think of God the Father and Jesus being seperate people..

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by AnthonyB

I have been thinking of alternative ways of describing the Trinity, or at least getting some of the concepts across.

Firstly idea is the rainbow, it is made of one essence or substance "light". It has several expressions or witnesses of it self as different colours, which although they can be referred to individually there is no way to partition them because they are not seperate but form a continuum so that a distinct line could never be drawn where one colour begins and the next ends. Despite the fact that they are not divided they are still distinct colours within the one entity of rainbow.

The second illustration is from Sci-Fi, so those who are not into that genre the following will make little sense, I will also preference this section that is was designed to just give an alternative to the prevailing LDS perception of 1 person in 1 being with an example of another way of divising things without explicitly being applicable to the trinity. The Borg in Star Trek are an entity, with a single shared conciousness, they inhabit multiple bodies and each Borg unit knows that it say 1 of 7 or 2 of 7 but that it is also part of a coporate consiouness. In many ways the Borg are described as being 1 personal consiousness in multiple bodies.

Thank you for your efforts to help in understanding. The area I have difficulty understanding the Trinity; is if G-d can be divided into parts or not. Is the Son a differential part of G-d? Is the Son to be differentiated from the Father as a non equal part or as Jesus said less than his Father? Was Jesus correct in this doctrine or was he confused?

The Traveler

[Dale]

The best book on the Trinity is entitled Understanding the Trinity by Alister E. McGrath. (Zondervan) The book helped me understand the Trinity idea. I am looking at my copy and it's only 154 pages.

the idea does not mean Jesus was a ventriloquist at his baptism. (Matthew 3:16-18) Withing God are three aware distinct centers of consciousness. They just are not in the idea seperate beings.

The body of Jesus is the only personage within God. But God is outside Jesus body. I compare it to a man putting his hand on a glove. Jesus is fully man and fully God. One illustation in my book say's Jesus allow's us to sample God. The illustration said like a moon rock allow's us to moon, but is not the whole moon.

[AnthonyB]

Traveler,

I have always seen the subordination of Jesus as being in terms of function not in terms of the intrinsic nature or worth of the persons. Phil 2:6 Whilst being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.

As for parts I think the historic answer was distinction not division, which is part of the idea behind the image of the rainbow.