Problems with the Trinity #2 'The Logical Problem'
· 17.02.2024 · 06:00:08 ··· ··· Saturday ·· 6 (6)
Bible Truth And Prophecy The doctrine of the Trinity is very widespread, but there are huge problems in understanding it. The real difficulty is that the statements which form the doctrine of the Trinity, when taken together, violate the laws of logic.
For example, the idea that Jesus is wholly God and that the Father is wholly God but that Jesus is not the Father violates the law of transitivity of identity. Other statements violate basic principles of logic. The matter is made worse when one considers the question of how many selves there are in the godhead, according to the doctrine of the Trinity. Such a question leads one either to polytheism or to modalism, both of which violate other statements in the doctrine of the Trinity.
This means that no matter how hard we try, it will not be possible to produce a statement of the doctrine of the Trinity which is logically consistent. Various attempts have been made, but all they are really doing is to move the contradiction to a statement that can easily be overlooked or which is too fuzzy to be properly comprehensible. Our God is a God of reason, not of contradiction.
This presentation looks at the doctrine of the Trinity and shows how it cannot be stated consistently.
Summary
This video discusses the logical problem with the doctrine of the Trinity, focusing on how the standard affirmations of mainstream Christianity seem logically incoherent. It explores the challenge of reconciling the idea of three distinct persons within one God while maintaining logical consistency. The speaker argues that traditional affirmations about the Trinity create tensions in terms of identity and unity, prompting theological complexities.
Highlights
🧠 The logical problem with the Trinity arises from the challenge of reconciling the doctrine's standard affirmations with logical coherence.
🤔 Identity becomes a key issue; while trinitarian statements equate the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with God, they also assert their distinctness, leading to logical contradictions.
📚 The video explores analogies to explain the Trinity's concept, highlighting the tension between viewing God as one substance with three persons and avoiding the implication of three separate Gods.
⚖️ Attempts to define God within the Trinity doctrine face hurdles, as definitions as a single person, three distinct persons, or one substance with three persons all lead to logical inconsistencies.
📖 The speaker suggests that traditional affirmations regarding the Trinity may need to be viewed as imprecise expressions rather than strictly logical definitions, raising theological implications.
🙏 The discussion extends to biblical interpretations, questioning whether certain passages, such as Jesus' prayer to the Father, support or challenge the traditional understanding of the Trinity.
Q: What is the logical problem with the doctrine of the Trinity?
A: The logical problem with the doctrine of the Trinity revolves around the challenge of maintaining logical coherence while affirming the standard beliefs of mainstream Christianity regarding the Trinity.
Q: How does the logical problem relate to identity and the Trinity doctrine?
A: The logical problem arises from issues of identity within the Trinity doctrine. While statements like "the father is God" and "the son is God" seem to imply identity, this conflicts with the doctrine's affirmation of three distinct persons within one God.
Q: What are some implications of applying identity logic to the Trinity doctrine?
A: Applying identity logic to the Trinity doctrine leads to apparent contradictions. For instance, if the father is God and the son is God, then logically, the father must be the son. However, this contradicts the doctrine's assertion of distinct persons within the Trinity.
Q: How does the logical problem challenge traditional affirmations about the Trinity?
A: The logical problem challenges traditional affirmations about the Trinity by highlighting the difficulty in defining God in a way that satisfies logical coherence while retaining the doctrine's key tenets. It prompts reconsideration of whether these affirmations are strictly logical or merely linguistic conventions.
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