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javid
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What is Symmetric trinity?
What is Asymmetric trinity?
What is Asymmetric trinity?
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Usige
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In a symmetrical trinity all three persons of God are fully equal. No one is greater then the other.
An asymmetrical trinity would have one of the three persons of God as being greater or more equal then the other two. Some imply that the Father is greater then the Son and Holy Spirit because he begot the Son and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the other two persons.
While this would seem to be asymmetric trinity it is a misunderstanding of how the persons of God are related. In esscence the way it is expressed can distort the relationship by creating a false sense of hierarchy between the persons of God which is not the case.
An asymmetrical trinity would have one of the three persons of God as being greater or more equal then the other two. Some imply that the Father is greater then the Son and Holy Spirit because he begot the Son and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the other two persons.
While this would seem to be asymmetric trinity it is a misunderstanding of how the persons of God are related. In esscence the way it is expressed can distort the relationship by creating a false sense of hierarchy between the persons of God which is not the case.
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Beryllos
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Can you tell us how you came up with the question? Being curious, I searched Catholic Answers Forums and got nothing. Google turned up nothing. Is your question whether the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equivalent to each other, or identical? I don’t think so.
Nevertheless, I am fond of the triquetra vesica shown below, which for me illustrates the oneness of the Holy Trinity:
Nevertheless, I am fond of the triquetra vesica shown below, which for me illustrates the oneness of the Holy Trinity:
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WoundedIcon
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Also shown in my avatar! I love that symbol. The top point is the Father, the Son comes from him, and then through that line comes the Spirit on the third point. It emphasizes the monarchy of the Father AND the Filioque, plus the mutual interconnected perichoresis (co-indwelling) of them all. It does have a flaw in it’s shape however, due to the Son and Spirit being on the bottom. But there’s really no better way to show it.Can you tell us how you came up with the question? Being curious, I searched Catholic Answers Forums and got nothing. Google turned up nothing. Is your question whether the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equivalent to each other, or identical? I don’t think so.
Nevertheless, I am fond of the triquetra vesica shown below, which for me illustrates the oneness of the Holy Trinity:
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javid
Guest
Thanks for answer.An asymmetrical trinity would have one of the three persons of God as being greater or more equal then the other two. Some imply that the Father is greater then the Son and Holy Spirit because he begot the Son and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the other two persons.
Would you please explain why this view is wrong?
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DavidFilmer
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It is wrong (to some degree) because it superimposes a human understanding of procreation upon God. Human procreation can give us insight into the Divine nature, but it cannot explain it.Would you please explain why this view is wrong?
In the “typical” Catholic metaphor of the Trinity, the Father eternally begat the Son, and their love for each other is so perfect and complete that it begets another Divine personage, the Holy Spirit, which is the divine personification of love itself.
In this manner, the Christian God is love, but not self-love. All pagan gods loved themselves (as do we), but the Christian God is a trinity of love. The Father does not love the Father, and the Son does not love the Son, and the Spirit does not love the Spirit, but the Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father, and the Spirit is begotten of that love.
The terms “begets” or “begotten” have, unfortunately, fallen into disuse in modern English. The terms means to procreate of the same nature. Birds beget birds. Birds do not beget fish. (“A bird might love a fish, but where would they find a home?” - Tevye, “Fiddler on the Roof:”)
The problem occurs when we apply human metaphors to God. Humans tend to view fathers as “greater” than their sons (indeed, most human cultures, including Catholic culture, encourage us to respect our parents - which means we should, in some manner, consider ourselves subject to our parents, even after we are adults, as long as our parents are of sound mind).
The “Father/Son” metaphor is the closest thing that we ordinary people have to understand the nature of God the Father and God the Son. But we must understand that this metaphor is exactly that - a metaphor - attuned to our understanding but lacking in completeness.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal in divinity, but not “the same” in nature.
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