The Trinity

Religion and Secularism
1

The gospel of Mark speaks against conceptualizing Jesus as one third of the Trinity. The prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, like the cry of dereliction from the cross, show Jesus crying out to one who is wholly Other: to God. It would be absurd to say in these cases that Jesus was crying out to himself.

2

The cry of dereliction in Mark also shows Mark’s Jesus did not think he would be resurrected after three days. The cry of dereliction by Jesus makes no sense if Jesus anticipates a speedy resurrection.

3

Speaking of resurrections. Welcome back.
I gave up on trying to re-interpret the Bible. There are lots of people doing it, but if you start pointing out that it means something like Jesus isn’t coming back, or didn’t die for their sins, or that he is a completely inconsistent character that can’t do anything for anybody, they get rather defensive.

4
The cry of dereliction in Mark also shows Mark's Jesus did not think he would be resurrected after three days. The cry of dereliction by Jesus makes no sense if Jesus anticipates a speedy resurrection.
Interesting to note that Mark also has a rather unimpressive resurrection story compared to the other gospels. The last bit of chapter 16 was added on later to probably make it seem more credible.
5
The cry of dereliction in Mark also shows Mark's Jesus did not think he would be resurrected after three days. The cry of dereliction by Jesus makes no sense if Jesus anticipates a speedy resurrection.
Interesting to note that Mark also has a rather unimpressive resurrection story compared to the other gospels. The last bit of chapter 16 was added on later to probably make it seem more credible. Credible? You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Lois
6
The cry of dereliction in Mark also shows Mark's Jesus did not think he would be resurrected after three days. The cry of dereliction by Jesus makes no sense if Jesus anticipates a speedy resurrection.
Interesting to note that Mark also has a rather unimpressive resurrection story compared to the other gospels. The last bit of chapter 16 was added on later to probably make it seem more credible. Credible? You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Lois Oh yeah? But you could...you could... make a really small football.
7
The cry of dereliction in Mark also shows Mark's Jesus did not think he would be resurrected after three days. The cry of dereliction by Jesus makes no sense if Jesus anticipates a speedy resurrection.
Interesting to note that Mark also has a rather unimpressive resurrection story compared to the other gospels. The last bit of chapter 16 was added on later to probably make it seem more credible. Credible? You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Lois Oh yeah? But you could...you could... make a really small football. :lol:
8
The Trinity
me, myself, and I. :coolsmirk:
9

Jesus is clearly not depicted as a god or The God, but rather as a human prophet (Mark 6:5) with human failings, such as drinking too much alcohol (Matthew 11:19), and even disagreeing with God’s plan and his role in God’s plan (Mark 14:32-42).

10
Jesus is clearly not depicted as a god or The God, but rather as a human prophet (Mark 6:5) with human failings, such as drinking too much alcohol (Matthew 11:19), and even disagreeing with God's plan and his role in God's plan (Mark 14:32-42).
Mark was one of the earlier gospels written, so it would make sense that it does not depict him as God. However Christian theology evolved and in John's writings especially he is depicted as God. The original version of Christianity may not have depicted him that way, and may have been much more Jewish in general. But what won at the end of the day was Pauline Christianity generally and all the books of the New Testament Canon specifically. Out of this came the concept of the Trinity, the creeds, and eventually what is considered orthodox Christianity.
11

Sauron was Bilbo’s father.

12
The Trinity
me, myself, and I. :coolsmirk:
Clapton, Baker and Bruce
13
The Trinity
me, myself, and I. :coolsmirk:
Clapton, Baker and BruceYeah baby, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNnN2pvylbY
14
I read somewhere that the reason for Mohammad to begin a new religion was the invocation of the trinity that he totally disagreed with. Any comments on that story?
I wouldn't be surprised. He was a merchant before becoming a prophet and had contact with both Christians and Jews. The Trinity, the resurrection, and the deity of Christ were all pretty controversial topics among monotheists at the time. Perhaps he was trying to resolve some of these theological disputes.
15
I think the Arabs thought Abrahamic monotheism was exactly what they wanted. The Arabs didn't buy into the trinity still being one God. I also think the Jews and Gentiles wanted the Arabs to branch off.
Makes sense. Xenophobia has a long proud history. Probably older that religion.
16

How anyone can say the are a monotheist and believe in the Trinity is beyond me but is also beyond me how anyone can believe in any superstation at all.

17
How anyone can say the are a monotheist and believe in the Trinity is beyond me but is also beyond me how anyone can believe in any superstation at all.
I've heard a few things. One uses an egg as an analogy, yolk, shell, and the white stuff which has a more sciencey name. I also went to a local meeting that used a recorded talk on the subject. He rejected the egg analogy, he rejected any analogy. When he would get to a point the oneness but not oneness was not making sense he'd say, "see, your brain can't handle it", and shake his hands and make bzzzt noises. Bottom line for me, Augustine said it was ultimately un-explainable. You can't get much more authoritative than that.
18
How anyone can say the are a monotheist and believe in the Trinity is beyond me but is also beyond me how anyone can believe in any superstation at all.
One thing I have learned is that its possible to believe just about anything, especially if you experienced childhood indoctrination, which I did.
19
How anyone can say the are a monotheist and believe in the Trinity is beyond me but is also beyond me how anyone can believe in any superstation at all.
One thing I have learned is that its possible to believe just about anything, especially if you experienced childhood indoctrination, which I did. It's still a valid question. I know lots of stories of people going to college, even seminary, and being disabused of these notions. How can you avoid just the pop culture references? How does the existence of the Dalai Lama not raise some questions?
20
How anyone can say the are a monotheist and believe in the Trinity is beyond me but is also beyond me how anyone can believe in any superstation at all.
One thing I have learned is that its possible to believe just about anything, especially if you experienced childhood indoctrination, which I did. It's still a valid question. I know lots of stories of people going to college, even seminary, and being disabused of these notions. How can you avoid just the pop culture references? How does the existence of the Dalai Lama not raise some questions? It's not just a valid question, but a very interesting one as well. I find the study of belief to be quite intriguing and am looking forward to buying some of Michael Shermer's books to learn more about this. Childhood indoctrination isn't the only explanation by the way. I think there are also biological, psychological, and cultural reasons involved as well. It's not a question that has a simple answer.