How is Christianity monotheistic?

[Anonymous]

Apologies if this comes off as offensive, but I don't really know how else to phrase it. I don't come from a Christian background, so a number of things are difficult for me to get. I don't really understand the trinity - are these embodiments of the same being? Why do they need different titles, or different powers or responsibilities, if they're the same entity? The god of the OT and NT (Jesus) seem drastically different - how is the (perceived) total personality difference reconciled as one same god? If they're the same god, why do so many Christians disregard the Old Testament? Why do the rules of the OT not apply, if they were created from the same god as the NT? Why did that god's personality change?

I was raised Muslim (considered a "strict" monotheistic religion), though I'm not practicing and don't consider myself religious anymore. I understand the Jewish deity, as it's actually very similar to the Islamic one. But I don't understand the Christian one. It seems most reconcilable by simply saying that the religion is not built upon a monotheistic god. But I've never been able to understand how it's a one-god religion.

I honestly mean no offense, it's just something I don't get from a logic perspective and looking for explanation. Please no "god sent his son to save us" simplistic replies - I'm really looking for more analytical understanding. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

God in three different forms. God as just "God" The original Creator. First Mover.
God as Jesus Christ. A human being who can understand our struggles and to whom we can relate.
God the Holy Spirit - a presence that dwells inside every human heart.

Every Christian religion interprets the Trinity differently. But generally speaking, think of it as different parts of the same body. They have different purposes, but are all still part of the same one body.

Not an easy concept for any Christian. We attend a Unity Church so my interpretation is going to seem very liberal compared to that of an evangelical Christian's.

[takoma]

These questions have many interpretations. As an interested atheist of Jewish background, I would say that Jews, Christians, and Muslims believe in the same God. Arabs of all three religions call God Allah, so the different sounding name should not be taken as indicating a different God.

Whether Christ was a preacher, a prophet, or the Lord embodied, I can accept much of what he said even though I consider myself an atheist. And whether God was the Creator of All things, Omniscient and Omnipotent, or just a comforting symbol of all we do not understand, if we can all act toward each other by the golden rule, why should we dispute the details?

[Anonymous]

can you understand ice, water and steam all being the same thing?

[takoma]

Anonymous wrote:can you understand ice, water and steam all being the same thing?

Yes. But sand, sea, and sky are not -- so much for analogy.

I'm not saying that I have a convincing argument why you should not believe in the Trinity; merely that Jews and Muslims do not accept it as consistent with their belief that The Lord is One. Since I believe The Lord is None, I'm the wrong guy to talk to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God in three different forms. God as just "God" The original Creator. First Mover.
God as Jesus Christ. A human being who can understand our struggles and to whom we can relate.
God the Holy Spirit - a presence that dwells inside every human heart.

Every Christian religion interprets the Trinity differently. But generally speaking, think of it as different parts of the same body. They have different purposes, but are all still part of the same one body.

Not an easy concept for any Christian. We attend a Unity Church so my interpretation is going to seem very liberal compared to that of an evangelical Christian's.

This.

But the real challenge to the notion is that two of these Father and Son bargain wih each other, indicating that their wills and therefore their identity as beings, are distinct. Take this cup from me....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can you understand ice, water and steam all being the same thing?

More like Kali, Visvamata, and Shakti. Most sacred mythologies had this kind of "multiple aspect" deity or deities. The Jews essentially invented monotheism, but of course that's never been very popular if you look at world religions, so the Catholics atomized Yaweh and now Christians have a pantheon of deities as well. But since you can't really just discard monotheism, you get around it by saying, "Oh, really they're all the same being."

[Anonymous]

Arguably the belief in any supernatural being - devils, Djinn, angels- is a form of polytheism. One "good" God that is worshipped, and a host of bad and good minor deities, at least to the extent they have supernatural powers, are immortal, et cetera. That's why my own concept of the devil is more like evil/selfish impulses within a person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can you understand ice, water and steam all being the same thing?

yep. Or we have used the analogy of an apple - skin, flesh and seeds - all different but together form one thing - an apple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:can you understand ice, water and steam all being the same thing?

yep. Or we have used the analogy of an apple - skin, flesh and seeds - all different but together form one thing - an apple.

Or dozens of different types of cells, various bacteria, and viruses all composing a human being.

[takoma]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:can you understand ice, water and steam all being the same thing?

yep. Or we have used the analogy of an apple - skin, flesh and seeds - all different but together form one thing - an apple.

Or dozens of different types of cells, various bacteria, and viruses all composing a human being.

Thanks for all the analogies. How about our government -- executive, legislative, and judicial?

But my earlier point was not that it is false to believe that the Trinity is consistent with "The Lord is One", just that it is a matter of faith, and it makes as much sense for a Christian to say it is obvious as for a Jew or Muslim to say it contradicts the Torah or the Quran. Trying to convince the other that he is wrong drives a wedge between people.

[Anonymous]

takoma wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:can you understand ice, water and steam all being the same thing?

yep. Or we have used the analogy of an apple - skin, flesh and seeds - all different but together form one thing - an apple.

Or dozens of different types of cells, various bacteria, and viruses all composing a human being.

Thanks for all the analogies. How about our government -- executive, legislative, and judicial?

But my earlier point was not that it is false to believe that the Trinity is consistent with "The Lord is One", just that it is a matter of faith, and it makes as much sense for a Christian to say it is obvious as for a Jew or Muslim to say it contradicts the Torah or the Quran. Trying to convince the other that he is wrong drives a wedge between people.

Maybe I am missing something, but I don't see anyone trying to convince anyone else that she is wrong. I thought this was a simple question of please explain how you see this, with people explaining how they see it. And of course Jews don't believe in the trinity, because they do not believe in the divinity of Jesus or that he was the Son of God. For christians, Father, son and Holy spirit are different manifestations of one, different ways of experiencing One. People are free to believe that or not. But you are the only one I see arguing.

[takoma]

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:can you understand ice, water and steam all being the same thing?

yep. Or we have used the analogy of an apple - skin, flesh and seeds - all different but together form one thing - an apple.

Or dozens of different types of cells, various bacteria, and viruses all composing a human being.

Thanks for all the analogies. How about our government -- executive, legislative, and judicial?

But my earlier point was not that it is false to believe that the Trinity is consistent with "The Lord is One", just that it is a matter of faith, and it makes as much sense for a Christian to say it is obvious as for a Jew or Muslim to say it contradicts the Torah or the Quran. Trying to convince the other that he is wrong drives a wedge between people.

Maybe I am missing something, but I don't see anyone trying to convince anyone else that she is wrong. I thought this was a simple question of please explain how you see this, with people explaining how they see it. And of course Jews don't believe in the trinity, because they do not believe in the divinity of Jesus or that he was the Son of God. For christians, Father, son and Holy spirit are different manifestations of one, different ways of experiencing One. People are free to believe that or not. But you are the only one I see arguing.

My point exactly. So what's the argument?

[Anonymous]

The real reason is that the church copied the tripartite god/goddess from older religions, as they copied so many other things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_goddess#Triple_goddesses

[Anonymous]

Father, son, holy ghost. Done.