Is Christianity polytheistic?

[Clear]

Is Christianity polytheistic?

For me, the short answer is: maybe!

But what do you think?

I get that each element is supposed to be a part of a greater unified whole - the triune Godhead

And yes, there can only be one Godhead

And I get that The Holy Trinity is three persons who are consubstantial with one another

But I cannot help but think that this amounts to polytheism!

Here they are (in no particular order):

View attachment 47572
Here's one member

View attachment 47573
Here's another

View attachment 47574
And here's the third

As I said, I get that these three distinct persons are of one essence

But I am beginning to think that the word "polytheistic" covers Christianity better than "Hi monotheistic"

But I still believe in this:

View attachment 47575

It's just that I think this arrangement amounts to Polytheism

(And I don't deny The Trinity)​

Hi @Eddi

Often investigators of Christianity see Christianity as a sort of schizoid "monotheistic polytheism" or a "polytheistic monotheism", especially since the various explanations of how 3=1 seem to make sense only to those who are trying to explain it. You might consider a model where Christianity is a henotheistic religion (similar to the very ancient Jews).

What I mean by henotheism is a religion that recognizes multiple individuals who are like God (i.e. "God-like") but only one Great God over all of the others.

For example, When Deuteronomy 10:17 describes God as "“The LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome.”, it describes a God who presides and has power and authority over all other Gods that are being referred to.

This is a form of monotheism since ONE God is over all other beings (whether they are called "Gods" or not.).

It was Budge, the great egyptologist who first pointed out that Egypt was essentially monotheistic, despite having called many other beings "Gods" because all Gods were under the authority of Geb, the great God.

For example, the dead sea scrolls (thanksgiving psalms) speaks over and over about beings who are "God-like", but all are under the authority of the God of Gods and Lord of Lords.

Henotheism is not Idolotry.

Idolotry in it's essence was not the recognition that other Gods might exist, but it was the worship of those Gods and the adoration of those Gods, instead of Jehovah which underlie it's inappropriateness.

At any rate, whatever model you come up with as you attempt to make sense of a "Godhead" of individuals that are recognized in Christianity, I hope your spiritual journey is insightful.


Good Luck Eddi

Clear
δρδρτζω

 

[Kenny]

Yeah... that's incoherent, too.

At the very least, your diagram - like the one in the OP - is simplified to the point of not being meaningful.

Usually, my effort to understand something is by asking questions.

 

[Clear]

Hi @9-10ths_Penguin

9-10ths_Penguin said : "The problem is that the formulation of the Trinity is irrational; it violates the transitive property of equality. People will naturally try to resolve the contradictions in their beliefs, but the problem with Trinitarianism is that if you resolve the contradictions - however you do it - it's not Trinitarianism any more. (post #21)

I like the logic here. Both of the diagrams offered are illogical or historically incoherent.
You cannot plug any numerical value into the first diagram that works. That is, as you say, it violates any transitive property of equality. (thanks for reference to a logical term).
Instead, it seems like it is a way to demonstrate that the belief in 3 divine beings is not polytheism, but because it is not a logical diagram, it fails to do this.

This is one reason why I think using the ancient Judeo-Christian model of Henotheism is more logical and creates less logical and historical problems.

Another problem for Christians is the multiple, varying interpretations of various lists of favorite "proof texts" that different movements use to attempt to prove their point. These "proof texts" only work if one accepts the interpretation applied to them by the various adherents.

I think @Eddi is correct that the diagram seems either polytheistic, or it cannot BE reconciled as a logical model without changing it away from it's original intended usage (which I think was to try to deny polytheism - because "polytheism is yucky and bad" and the Christians of the later centuries did not know how to handle another type of theological model given their interpretation of the texts)

In any case and no matter which model is correct, I hope your various journeys are wonderful and insightful and fascinating.


Clear
φιειφιω

 

[74x12]

Is Christianity polytheistic?

For me, the short answer is: maybe!

But what do you think?

I get that each element is supposed to be a part of a greater unified whole - the triune Godhead

And yes, there can only be one Godhead

And I get that The Holy Trinity is three persons who are consubstantial with one another

But I cannot help but think that this amounts to polytheism!

Here they are (in no particular order):

View attachment 47572
Here's one member

View attachment 47573
Here's another

View attachment 47574
And here's the third

As I said, I get that these three distinct persons are of one essence

But I am beginning to think that the word "polytheistic" covers Christianity better than "monotheistic"

But I still believe in this:

View attachment 47575

It's just that I think this arrangement amounts to Polytheism

(And I don't deny The Trinity)​

No, this is one issue with the trinity doctrine by the way. I think it leads people to polytheistic pov and confusion in general. Whereas the early Christians were all Jewish and really believed in one God only like Deut 6:4. It was most likely "educated" Roman and Greek converts that started evolving the trinity doctrine to explain the hypostasis of Christ with God. They were most likely influenced by Greek philosophical concepts of a divine person called the "logos" but this was not really a Jewish concept. So I believe they're misinterpreting such chapters as John chapter 1.

Secondly they may have been inspired by pagan trinity concepts which would probably have been familiar to them; like the 3 main gods of Egyptian mythology. You have Osiris* the father, Isis the mother, and Horus* the son ... The ancient church in Alexandria Egypt being one of the most polytheistic trinitarian groups doctrinally. Also keep in mind that many trinitarians began to basically elevate Mary to divine status. Other trinitarians even go so far as equating the holy Spirit with the feminine or mother.

Really the big "evidence" trinitarians use for their doctrine (when debating modalists or oneness adherents) is the distinction between Father and Son. But that distinction can be explained as a distinction between human and divine nature rather than a distinction of divine persons.

The scriptures emphasize the humanity of Christ because it is important but that doesn't mean he's a distinct divine person from the Father. In fact Jesus claims he's the revealing of the Father in John 14:9.

The Son was the Father revealed in the world. That's how I look at it.

 

[blü 2]

Is Christianity polytheistic?

For me, the short answer is: maybe!

But what do you think?

I get that each element is supposed to be a part of a greater unified whole - the triune Godhead

And yes, there can only be one Godhead

And I get that The Holy Trinity is three persons who are consubstantial with one another

But I cannot help but think that this amounts to polytheism!

Here they are (in no particular order):

View attachment 47572
Here's one member

View attachment 47573
Here's another

View attachment 47574
And here's the third

As I said, I get that these three distinct persons are of one essence

But I am beginning to think that the word "polytheistic" covers Christianity better than "monotheistic"

But I still believe in this:

View attachment 47575

It's just that I think this arrangement amounts to Polytheism

(And I don't deny The Trinity)​

Yes, Christianity is essentially polytheistic. It asserts that the Father, and Jesus, and the Ghost, are each 100% of God. And that makes 300%, which is three gods.

The denial that 300% makes three gods ─ instead makes only one god ─ is admitted by the churches themselves to be an incoherent claim, for which their expression is "a mystery in the strict sense".

I've never been told the reason why the Ghost is part of the team. The Ghost appears to be a version of the Tanakh's ruach, the breath or spirit of God, which however is not understood to be a distinct entity but a particular manifestation of the one God (or so I understand). However, I supposethe Ghost's inclusion would allow resolutions to be passed 2-1 instead of the Father always having the casting vote, thereby making Jesus' view irrelevant.

 

[Samael_Khan]

Is Christianity polytheistic?

For me, the short answer is: maybe!

But what do you think?

I get that each element is supposed to be a part of a greater unified whole - the triune Godhead

And yes, there can only be one Godhead

And I get that The Holy Trinity is three persons who are consubstantial with one another

But I cannot help but think that this amounts to polytheism!

Here they are (in no particular order):

View attachment 47572
Here's one member

View attachment 47573
Here's another

View attachment 47574
And here's the third

As I said, I get that these three distinct persons are of one essence

But I am beginning to think that the word "polytheistic" covers Christianity better than "monotheistic"

But I still believe in this:

View attachment 47575

It's just that I think this arrangement amounts to Polytheism

(And I don't deny The Trinity)​

"three distinct persons are of one essence"

What does "one essence" mean?

 

[Clara Tea]

Is Christianity polytheistic?

For me, the short answer is: maybe!

But what do you think?

I get that each element is supposed to be a part of a greater unified whole - the triune Godhead

And yes, there can only be one Godhead

And I get that The Holy Trinity is three persons who are consubstantial with one another

But I cannot help but think that this amounts to polytheism!

Here they are (in no particular order):

View attachment 47572
Here's one member

View attachment 47573
Here's another

View attachment 47574
And here's the third

As I said, I get that these three distinct persons are of one essence

But I am beginning to think that the word "polytheistic" covers Christianity better than "monotheistic"

But I still believe in this:

View attachment 47575

It's just that I think this arrangement amounts to Polytheism

(And I don't deny The Trinity)​

I agree. I believe that God is God, and there is no other (just as God said it). I believe that Jesus is the son of God, and therefore has a spirit, just as we do (but his was far more powerful, and perhaps contained multiple spirits). Jesus can be called Lord (not God). The holy spirit was the spirit(s) contained within Jesus, when Jesus was alive.

The Muslim and Christian faiths are based on the Jewish faith (so Christians are a type of Jew, religiously, not ethnically). The Jewish faith used to be polytheistic. Yet, there was one very powerful God, and that God was jealous. So, one must not pray to or follow the other Gods or face the wrath of the most powerful one. This, I believe, is the reason that Jews dropped the other Gods.

It is important that Christians attend Jewish temples, and learn about the evolution of the Jewish faith. Learn the meaning of the old testament as it was translated in Hebrew (and maybe Greek and Latin, as well). Christian pastors would bristle at the idea, but I think it would answer a lot of questions about the origin of the religion, and how we are supposed to worship today.

 

[Clara Tea]

I have used this before but it is the greatest example since we know that our persons is not poly-personView attachment 47576

I think that spirit and soul might be the same. They both seem to be a tiny piece of God.

 

[1213]

Is Christianity polytheistic?
...​

Because Bible says:

This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
John 17:3

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5

I think Bible teaches monotheism. And therefore, if Christianity is to be a disciple of Jesus, they should be monotheistic.

 

[Kenny]

I think that spirit and soul might be the same. They both seem to be a tiny piece of God.

They certainly are united as one... .but scripture does mention it as separate in 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Is Christianity polytheistic?

For me, the short answer is: maybe!

But what do you think?

I get that each element is supposed to be a part of a greater unified whole - the triune Godhead

And yes, there can only be one Godhead

And I get that The Holy Trinity is three persons who are consubstantial with one another

But I cannot help but think that this amounts to polytheism!

Here they are (in no particular order):

View attachment 47572
Here's one member

View attachment 47573
Here's another

View attachment 47574
And here's the third

As I said, I get that these three distinct persons are of one essence

But I am beginning to think that the word "polytheistic" covers Christianity better than "monotheistic"

But I still believe in this:

View attachment 47575

It's just that I think this arrangement amounts to Polytheism

(And I don't deny The Trinity)​

I believe in just one God.

 

[Muffled]

Is Christianity polytheistic?

For me, the short answer is: maybe!

But what do you think?

I get that each element is supposed to be a part of a greater unified whole - the triune Godhead

And yes, there can only be one Godhead

And I get that The Holy Trinity is three persons who are consubstantial with one another

But I cannot help but think that this amounts to polytheism!

Here they are (in no particular order):

View attachment 47572
Here's one member

View attachment 47573
Here's another

View attachment 47574
And here's the third

As I said, I get that these three distinct persons are of one essence

But I am beginning to think that the word "polytheistic" covers Christianity better than "monotheistic"

But I still believe in this:

View attachment 47575

It's just that I think this arrangement amounts to Polytheism

(And I don't deny The Trinity)​

I believe it is not.

 

[Muffled]

No. Common idea of the Trinity is there is one god, three functions.

Jesus is a human not a creator. Spirit comes from god not is god. It's just the roles are incarnated as person or spirit.

Incarnation of a creator doesn't make two creators. So, it's monotheism.

I believe Spirit is not a role. God is Spirit infinitely different from our finite spirits. The Paraclete is often called the Holy Spirit but that is a misnomer.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I believe Spirit is not a role. God is Spirit infinitely different from our finite spirits. The Paraclete is often called the Holy Spirit but that is a misnomer.

I've always wondered how a spirit can send the holy spirit to christians:

A spirit sending a spirit to liven a christian's spirit so that her spirit is aligned with the spirit that was sent and therefore aligned with the spirit who sent it. (Say that there times fast)

What are the nature of the spirits (instead of spirit) that makes each one different?