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Bill_Pick
Guest
What do the Mormons believe about the trinity and what do they believe about god
I Ask Two Questions About The Mormon Faith And It Mades Me Ask Two More
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estesbob
Guest
There isn’t one and there are a lot of them.
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dianaiad
Guest
The problem, first, is what do YOU believe about the Trinity?
Quite frankly, whenever I speak to people about it, I find that in a lot of cases they SAY ‘trinity,’ but when they describe the concept, they describe modalism.
We believe that there is God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. They are three distinct personages that share a concept: “God.” Thus they are all three God.
But they are not in any way, shape or form connected except in purpose and intent. They are complete individuals.
One analogy, EXTREMELY imperfect (as all things are when they deal with deity) is the idea that “God” is a ‘job description’ that all three share.
As I said, that is a very imperfect analogy. It is, of course, far more than a ‘job description,’ but it gets the mind going in the right direction, I think. It is an…‘essence?’ (not quite that…though it is a very traditional Catholic word to use)
When we say that we are not trinitarians, what we are saying is that we aren’t modalists…which is what trinitarianism tends to ook like far too often in the descriptions we are given.
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RebeccaJ
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Best answer.
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Tonks40
Guest
Then I guess Mormons don’t understand the Trinity.
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RebeccaJ
Guest
Mormons have taken to using the word Trinity. However, they do not believe in Three Persons, ONE God. They believe in three persons, three gods (at least). They are henotheistic: a belief in the existence of many gods, but only worship one (God the Father).
They do not believe in the Incarnation. The do not believe Jesus is God.
In C.S Lewis terms, Christians believe God begat God. Mormons believe God begat a man who became a god.
They do not believe in the Incarnation. The do not believe Jesus is God.
In C.S Lewis terms, Christians believe God begat God. Mormons believe God begat a man who became a god.
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dianaiad
Guest
No, I think it is that we might understand it better than those who describe it to us—
and actually describe modalism.
…and modalism is supposed to be heresy, isn’t it?
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truthsilence
Guest
As you, we too find ourselves giving imperfect analogies to describe God. It is often difficult to “describe”… when talking about Diety. Perhaps this is why He said: “I AM”. I think that resonated with the Jewish people. They knew Jesus was telling them he was God.
A good description of the Trinity is one given by Frank Sheed, in his book Theology and Sanity. In short, if you were to ask the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit: “Who are You?”, each would reply “Father” “Son” “Holy Spirit”. If the question were changed to: “What are You?”, each would reply: “God”.
Three Persons, One God. Uncreated. In God “nature” (and there is only One) there can be (and is) three Persons. Not the same, with “human nature”. We find it almost impossible to describe because it is indeed a mystery to us. But there is One God to us. I AM.
Peace,
Tami
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RebeccaJ
Guest
IMO, modalism occurs when people describe the economic Trinity, and either not understanding, or not incorporating into their descriptions, the immanent Trinity.
ie, they describe what God DOES in relationship to creation. Only, they separate too far the Persons of the Trinity, not taking into account the nature of God and the relationship the Persons of the Trinity to each other. Three persons, One God.
Not three personages with the title God.:ehh: Like we’re talking the
Corporation of the Godhead
God the Father: CEO and President
This Universe, Inc.
ie, they describe what God DOES in relationship to creation. Only, they separate too far the Persons of the Trinity, not taking into account the nature of God and the relationship the Persons of the Trinity to each other. Three persons, One God.
Not three personages with the title God.:ehh: Like we’re talking the
Corporation of the Godhead
God the Father: CEO and President
This Universe, Inc.
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Zooey
Guest
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Tonks40
Guest
Yes, it would be.
Check out this definition of modalism:
IOW, it’s not a form of multiple personality disorder. As imperfect as our descriptions are for the Trinity, the one overriding component is that neither Christ, God or the Holy Spirit were created, nor did they transform into one of the three persons.
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truthsilence
Guest
Excellent insight, Rebecca.
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truthsilence
Guest
Another great post here.
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truthsilence
Guest
I highly recommend this book, as well as Sheed’s ‘Theology for Beginners’. If I had to choose one or the other though, it would be Theology and Sanity.Ooooh!! I like that!!!
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dianaiad
Guest
You are quite right; it is very difficult to use words to adequately describe this concept. For instance, any Mormon would look at what you just wrote and nod his or her head in agreement.
The question is what each of us means when we use the words.
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dianaiad
Guest
We believe that Jesus is Jehovah; that He was God before He was born. Where does that fit in to your claim to know what our beliefs are?
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estesbob
Guest
was God OR was a god?
Stephen168
New member
What does Bill’s belief have to do with what mormons believe about God?
How is it a problem?
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truthsilence
Guest
Yes, as in, okay, so, God is uncreated. Are you? Then, is Christ?
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dianaiad
Guest
Communication requires that the symbols used (words and language, too) be understood by all the parties as meaning the same thing.
If to me the word “dog” means ‘canine,’ and to you it means ‘male fox,’ there are going to be problems down the road.
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