Rationality in the Trinity

Angela,

Thanks for very enlightening comments. By the way, my friend George is a hard-core protestant.

I found this from you, very interesting information:

From you: "To rationalize the Trinity in a Christian (mainstream) view point, you must be able to hold that something can be in three places at the same time."

Example of H2O does not explain Trinity or Triunity of God at all. There are only Oxygen and Hydrogen present in water. That would leave the Holy Ghost completely thrown out.  Yes, I agree that the three forms of a certain amount of water can happen but water can retain only one form at one time. The same amount of water cannot exist as solid, liquid and vapour.

Angela, you said," My Church does not have the Triune God."

Could you share your thoughts on the above single-line statement with me, please. I have met many Christians who have boldly told me that Jesus was not God but just a son of God. Have you come across this group of Christians?

I have seen them bowing and prostrating with their foreheads on the ground and praying like Jesus prayed. Are you aware of this?

Best Regards

BMZ

Edited by bmzsp

while were on the subject of funny stories about satan, is it true that if you fall asleep at prayer in the mosque, satan will come and urinate in your ears?  and is it true that satan comes and sits up your nose when you go to sleep at night, so you have to wash your nose out every morning?

Edited by fredifreeloader

I do know of a Orthodox liturgy where we prostrated.  I'm trying to remember whether it was Pentacost or one of the other holidays.  Its been years. 

As for the Latter Day Saint Theology on Christ, he is the Son of God, not God incarnate. 

We believe that our spirits were created first.  Then God taught us the laws of exaltation.  In order for us to become more, we must be tested and perfected.  Jesus is a brother to all of us.  Its all detailed in the Book of Moses.

http://scriptures.lds.org/moses/contents

Its rather lenghty and would derail this thread to go into all of that.

But, LDS do not believe that Jesus Christ was God incarnated into flesh. Nor do we believe the Holy Ghost is God....he's part of the Godhead and has a purpose.  He is the voice of God....the testifier of the Truth....a spirit without a body.  But not part of God the Father.

I guess you could call Mormon's polytheists....but that would be highly over simplifying everything. 

Mainstream Christianity teaches a Trinity, 3 in 1.

We teach a triumvirate of sorts, with God the Father at the Head.

In our doctrines, there is no "trinity", but the three aspects are still there.  They just have their own distinct essense and are only United in purpose. 

God knew we would fail the first test.  We were supposed to fail the first test.  Eve was a smart cookie, she knew she could not obey the first commandment of God (Go Forth and Multiply and replenish the Earth) if she did not eat the fruit of the knowledge of Good and Evil.

Thus, God needed to give us another path back to him.  This was Christ's atoning sacrifice.  And the Holy Spirit was to be the Comforter and Testifier of the Truth.

 

Side note.  I pray on my knees, sitting, standing, walking, driving, swimming.  Prayer is deep in the heart and we should pray always.  But Salah is different than Christian prayer.  There is no Salah in Christianity, are prayers are closer to Dikhr and Duaa.  The Lord's prayer, the Rosery, and such are like Dikhr, everything else is like Duaa. 

fredi,

Salaat, also pronounced  as salaah can be found right in the beginning of Surah 2 AlBaqarah in verse 3. "those who maintain constant praying to God" or "those who establish regular prayers to God." "Establish regular prayers" menas to pray regularly to God.

The next reference specifically addressed to the Children of Israel, the Jews can be found in the verse 43 of the same Surah:

"Establish regular prayers, pay charity and bow down along with others." The others are who bow down to God.

It is mentioned at many places in Qur'aan. In 2:110, 2;153, 2:177 and the grandest is mentioned in 2:238, which simply tells us to be regular and not to miss, offer the prayers with God in the best frame of mind with concentration and to stand wih extreme devotion to God Almighty.

In Surah Bani Israel (Children of Israel) 17:78-80

In Surah Taa'Haa 20:130-132, the command to pray to God is specific and we are told to tell our near and beloved ones to be consistent in their prayers to God Almighty.

Prayers (salaat) to God Almighty are carried out five times a day. It is an act of worshipping God Almighty and to show that we stand, bow, kneel and fall in prostration to adore God Almighty. These are the acts in prayers. However, there is a Surah Fateha which is the 1st Chapter in Qur'aan and that is a Du'aa in itself taught directly by God Almighty and we recite this within the prayers. It is a part of the prayers as it glorifies God first and asks for the betterment of all collectively.

When we ask God for help or for granting us something, we raise our hands and ask God to help, bless and grant us anything, this act IS not a prayer. It is know as Du'aa. For example, asking God to forgive us, grant us good health and sustenance, etc., this will come under du'aa. And after prayers are over, we sit down, lie down or stand on reciting God's names and use words to glorify God Almighty, that is known as Zikr.

Hope this helped.  

Edited by bmzsp