Is Christianity polytheistic?

[Eddi]

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):


Here's one member


Here's another


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:



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

(And I don't deny The Trinity)​

 

[Estro Felino]

I do believe in One God.
That is why I believe Jesus is God, because if we say He is the Son of God (as Apollo was Zeus's son), we can let others suspect the Trinity is polytheism.
It is a theological mystery, but I believe God is still one.

 

[Eddi]

I do believe in One God.
That is why I believe Jesus is God, because if we say He is the Son of God (as Apollo was Zeus's son), we can let others suspect the Trinity is polytheism.
It is a theological mystery, but I believe God is still one.

On balance I also believe in one God

But imagine a husband and a wife. Are they two people or one couple??? It's the same problem with the Holy Trinity and its three members!

Sometimes they are two people (e.g. each has their own passport) yet sometimes they are one (e.g. they have a joint bank account) - whether there is two or one depends on the circumstances!

So I think it can be argued either way

 

[Kenny]

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

 

[Eddi]

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

Hi Ken,

I see your avatar is a pic of you and your wife:

Are you one couple who are made up of two persons or two persons who are parts of one couple? What way round do you see it?

 

[Regiomontanus]

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

 

[Eddi]

No

Why not?

 

[Kenny]

Hi Ken,

I see your avatar is a pic of you and your wife:

Are you one couple who are made up of two persons or two persons who are parts of one couple? What way round do you see it?

The difference, Eddi, is that my wife and I are not God.

But if you look at my body, it is the expressed image of my spirit (from what I understand) - one person but two different expressions...

Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

 

[Martin]

If Christanity is polytheistic, would that make it pagan?

 

[Eddi]

The difference, Eddi, is that my wife and I are not God.

But if you look at my body, it is the expressed image of my spirit (from what I understand) - one person but two different expressions...

Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

LOL, no, you're not!

But don't you think that a married couple and the Godhead are analogous? In that each can be taken as being either a collective unified entity or as a group/couple of individual entities?

I think it makes more sense to think of a married couple as being two entities, not one entity in two halves, and I believe the same applies to the triune Godhead

But granted, the analogy breaks down as a married couple are not of the same substnace in the same way as The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit are

 

[Eddi]

If Christanity is polytheistic, would that make it pagan?

If I understand correctly, the concept of "pagan" began with the early Christians, to describe those who were neither Christian or Jewish

So no, I'd say it wouldn't

 

[Kenny]

LOL, no, you're not!

But don't you think that a married couple and the Godhead are analogous? In that each can be taken as being either a collective unified entity or as a group/couple of individual entities?

I think it makes more sense to think of a married couple as being two entities, not one entity in two halves, and I believe the same applies to the triune Godhead

But granted, the analogy breaks down as a married couple are not of the same substnace in the same way as The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit are

I agree that it is analogous... but all analogies fall short to actual equality.

The man in the marriage is analogous to Jesus but he is not Jesus. The woman in the marriage is analogous to The Church but she isn't The Church. But Jesus is the expressed image of the Father... and is not analogous.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

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. 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.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

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)​

IMO, Trinitarian Christianity is polytheistic.

Not all of Christianity is Trinitarian.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

But granted, the analogy breaks down as a married couple are not of the same substnace in the same way as The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit are

In other contexts, Christians tell me that God has no "substance" at all. If the three persons of the Trinity are "of the same substance," then this would imply that God actually does have substance.

Interesting.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

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

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.

 

[LightofTruth]

Who is Jesus' God?

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Sounds as if whoever is Jesus' Father is also his God.

 

[LightofTruth]

And why is Jesus called Lord?

Act 2:34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,
Act 2:35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
Act 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Sounds as if the God of Jesus made Jesus, a son of David, to be David's Lord.

 

[37818]

(And I don't deny The Trinity)

Trinity is montheism. Polythism is a denial of the Trinity.
Tritheism is a polytheism and a so denial of the Trinity.

 

[Eddi]

Trinity is montheism. Polythism is a denial of the Trinity.
Tritheism is a polytheism and a so denial of the Trinity.

But is The Godhead a thing that is made up of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit

Or are The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit things that are made up by The Godhead?

Is The Godhead the entity (and is divided into three) or are the three elements of The Trinity the entity (that come together to form the unified Godhead)?

This is the question I am wrestling with

And maybe it is an invalid question...

The Trinity is after all a mystery