The Relation between the Christian Trinity, the Jewish Kabbalah and Hasidism, and Hinduism

[meltzerboy]

In my reading, I have found bits and pieces suggesting connections between the Christian Trinity (Triune G-d), the mystical Jewish Kabbalah and the beliefs about G-d that are part of Hasidism, and some of the notions about G-d found in Hinduism. It’s difficult for me to put it all together but I’m fairly certain there are some significant links and mutual influences. Hasidism’s approach to G-d, based on Kabbalah as well as Torah, has been refuted by some in the traditional Orthodox Jewish community, because it veers toward separating the unique Unity of G-d into many faces, indeed the faces of both animate creatures and inanimate objects, while at the same time maintaining the Oneness principle. The Trinity views G-d as three distinct faces (not such a multitude), while also maintaining the idea of one G-d. And Hinduism, as I understand it, views G-d beyond a single Entity and spread throughout Nature, and yet claims not to be pantheistic. What can we make of all this, if anything? Are there real connections here, or are they only in my imagination? Any scholars or thinkers out there, of any or no religious background, who can shed light on the issue?

 

[TeenageConvert]

In my reading, I have found bits and pieces suggesting connections between the Christian Trinity (Triune G-d), the mystical Jewish Kabbalah and the beliefs about G-d that are part of Hasidism, and some of the notions about G-d found in Hinduism. It’s difficult for me to put it all together but I’m fairly certain there are some significant links and mutual influences. Hasidism’s approach to G-d, based on Kabbalah as well as Torah, has been refuted by some in the traditional Orthodox Jewish community, because it veers toward separating the unique Unity of G-d into many faces, indeed the faces of both animate creatures and inanimate objects, while at the same time maintaining the Oneness principle. The Trinity views G-d as three distinct faces (not such a multitude), while also maintaining the idea of one G-d. And Hinduism, as I understand it, views G-d beyond a single Entity and spread throughout Nature, and yet claims not to be pantheistic. What can we make of all this, if anything? Are there real connections here, or are they only in my imagination? Any scholars or thinkers out there, of any or no religious background, who can shed light on the issue?

Well, my personal belief and I think it’s supported by quite of few Catholics, is that of course, Catholicism has the fullness of truth, but other religions have bits and pieces of truth mixed with lies of the devil.

A group of pagans had a “triple godess” not unlike the Holy Trinity.
If I’m not mistaken, Hindus have “Lord Krishna” who is very similar to Jesus Christ.
There is also the Hindu belief in the water which washes away their sins, much like Baptism in Catholicism
The Holy Spirit broke through and gave truth to these religious people despite the fact that Satan had been very involved with the pagan religions forming.

 

[runningdude]

From what little I know about Kabbalah, it developed during the Middle Ages, so its possible that it actually did borrow from Christian thought.

As for Hinduism, its possible some limited understanding of God still exists. All religions are ultimately breakaway sects from the primordial religion of Adam and Eve, save for Judaism, and Catholicism (for Catholics at least ). From the Catholic standpoint, the Trinity has existed since time immortal, so the Hindu belief in the nature of God, could be a corruption of the Trinity that occurred over several millenia.

All speculation on my part…

 

[MartinJordan]

I would first read Catholicism of the Catholic Church first, then try to figure out the relation between the Triune God (of Catholicism) and the other ancient thoughts you have mentioned here.

MJ

 

[Kaninchen]

In my reading, I have found bits and pieces suggesting connections between the Christian Trinity (Triune G-d), the mystical Jewish Kabbalah and the beliefs about G-d that are part of Hasidism, and some of the notions about G-d found in Hinduism. It’s difficult for me to put it all together but I’m fairly certain there are some significant links and mutual influences. Hasidism’s approach to G-d, based on Kabbalah as well as Torah, has been refuted by some in the traditional Orthodox Jewish community, because it veers toward separating the unique Unity of G-d into many faces, indeed the faces of both animate creatures and inanimate objects, while at the same time maintaining the Oneness principle. The Trinity views G-d as three distinct faces (not such a multitude), while also maintaining the idea of one G-d. And Hinduism, as I understand it, views G-d beyond a single Entity and spread throughout Nature, and yet claims not to be pantheistic. What can we make of all this, if anything? Are there real connections here, or are they only in my imagination? Any scholars or thinkers out there, of any or no religious background, who can shed light on the issue?

Might it not be argued that the missing link in some of this is Zoroastrianism?