The God of Christianity

The Trinity: a single Godhead
composed of three persons

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Introduction:

The term "trinity" implies a grouping of three. In religious usage, "trinity" generally refers to a group of three deities -- or three aspects of a single deity -- who exist in a special relationship with each other.

Three examples are:

• A nearly universal belief within Christianity is that the Godhead is simultaneously a unity and a grouping of three persons: God the Father; Jesus Christ, the Son; and the Holy Spirit. As the Athanasian Creed from the late 5^th century CE explains, the Trinity is "one God" and "three persons... and yet they are not three Gods, but one God."
  
  
• There are a number of Trinities within Hinduism:
  • Brahman is viewed as being: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu, (Krishna) the Preserver, and Shiva the Judge/Destroyer.
    
    
  • Shakti, The feminine power of the universe, shakti, is expressed as Sarasvati, the Goddess of Wisdom; Lakshmi, Goddess of Prosperity; and Kali/Durga, Goddess of Judgment.
    
    
  • The Krishna Trinity is usually conceived as Vishnu, the cosmic body (vishvarupa); the incarnate Krishna; and Krishna as paramatma."

  Sarasvati's attributes correspond closely with those of Sophia in the Hebrew Scriptures. Paramatma is very similar to the Holy Spirit in Christianity.

• Within Goddess worship, Wicca and some other Neopagan religions, the Goddess is viewed as a Trinity consisting of a Maiden who represents energy and sexuality; a Mother who represents fertility; and Crone who represents wisdom.

Topics covered in this section:

In the future, we hope to convert this essay to a menu that will have links to a series of essays on the Trinity that will discuss:

• How Yeshua of Nazareth (Jesus Christ) was viewed by his immediate followers.
• How he was viewed by the early Jewish Christian movement and by Paul.
• The political battles that led to the adoption and refinement of the Trinity by various 4th century church councils.
• Various attempts to explain the nature of the Trinity in terms that people can understand.
• Various understandings of the Trinity among today's Christian denominations.
• etc.

Reference used:

This hyperlink may not still be online.

1. Nick Gier, "The most well known Hindu Trinity...," University of Idaho, undated, at: http://www.class.uidaho.edu/

Copyright 2010 to 2011 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Original posting on this website: 2010-MAR-12
Latest update: 2011-OCT-24

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