Diotima

I am sure that if I did some digging, like a good Christian... I could trace the Triad even in those cases

It doesn't really matter. My examples just try show the tendancy.

If we agree that Religion is founded upon Faith, then we have a problem to apply your theory because Faith starts from the point that Logic ends...

Faith must be a really fat lady... she( Faith = Pistis in Greek, female noun...) doesn't leave much room to Science and its methods....

Diotima. Socrate's obsession.

Doctor X

On the contrary, using "science" or rationality, one can understand why people believed what they did, how the beliefs developed, if one maintain an honest perspective on the quality of the sources.

Faith may not seem rational, though one can rationally try to understand it. "Understand" does not mean "agree with."

--J.D.

Diotima

You mean that somebody can study how faith developed within a historical context, yes I agree. You don't need to be religious to study sencretic theology for example.

Understanding? As we say empathy? I had no idea that this process had to do with logic...

Doctor X

Without logic you cannot know with any certainty.

--J.D.

Diotima

Yes.... and when logic fails this where the Prima Donna, the Faith enters the stage...

Celsus

Let's try to stay on topic, and if you want to talk about science and rationality, try either the Philosophy or Science & Skepticism fora (where you will be quite pleasantly greeted with completely opposite responses ).

Joel
BC&H Moderator

Diotima

Of course! Although someone should expect that from a discussion about the Trinitarian concept would emanate many other ideas, as shown above

Doctor X

Stumbling over your train?

Celsus:

I would have thought it obvious to study something like polytheism requires a modicum of rational approach. Furthermore, as a review of the previous posts demonstrate, the question is where does a triad, a trinity, come from? Is it something inherent in polytheism that then develops more concretely in monotheism--something Diotoma implies--or is it something that people retroject on the polytheism--"found a father, found a mother, found a son . . . voila!." Well . . . was that the way the people at the time looked at the situation? Would "early Christians" have recognized or respected a "trinity" and where is the evidence for that, and, finally, how do you evaluate it.

I am sure other posters if they choose to expand on the question, or even direct it towards other ends, will do so if they wish.

--J.D.

Amos

The Trinity exists only until rebirth which is the time when the "Father and I [become] one." In Catholicism this is Divine Union is formally called the Beatific Vision and once this atonement takes place some major adjustment are needed before the Son can rightfully take his place at the right side of the Father (eg. while in Purgatory we must learn to walk on the waters of the Celestial sea=go by intuition). Before such atonement the Son always existed on the left side while Mary served as mediator between these two (She is the Queen of angels for that reason). After this Purgation period the Son is placed on the right side of the Father to indicate that our faculty of reason is now placed subservient to our intuition.

To resolve the old Trinity we will Crown Mary as Queen of heaven and earth by means of Assumption and Coronation and we do this in recognition of the fact that She was the major player that got us to heaven in the end (in Rev.21:9 Mother Mary becomes our new bride).

Doctor X

I remain unconvinced that the texts support such a mythology.

Though it may demonstrate why a scientific approach is necessary to eveluate the development of religions.

--J.D.