Thanks. I already followed the first link, and was not disappointed. The beginning paragraph is very interesting:
The term "Trinity" is not a Biblical term, and we are not using Biblical language when we define what is expressed by it as the doctrine that there is one only and true God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal Persons, the same in substance but distinct in subsistence. A doctrine so defined can be spoken of as a Biblical doctrine only on the principle that the sense of Scripture is Scripture. And the definition of a Biblical doctrine in such unbiblical language can be justified only on the principle that it is better to preserve the truth of Scripture than the words of Scripture. The doctrine of the Trinity lies in Scripture in solution; when it is crystallized from its solvent it does not cease to be Scriptural, but only comes into clearer view. Or, to speak without figure, the doctrine of the Trinity is given to us in Scripture, not in formulated definition, but in fragmentary allusions; when we assembled the disjecta membra into their organic unity, we are not passing from Scripture, but entering more thoroughly into the meaning of Scripture. We may state the doctrine in technical terms, supplied by philosophical reflection; but the doctrine stated is a genuinely Scriptural doctrine.
This confirms what I have suspected: the doctrine of the Trinity is not Biblical, but philosophy mixed with Scripture. Forgive me if I prefer scripture without the philosophy.
From this I take it you also must not understand the meaning of Christ's words -- "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). Yet you say you believe in the Bible.
Indeed I do believe the Bible. And I know that Jesus also prayed to the Father that the disciples "may be one, even as we are one" (John 17:22; see also 17:20-23). I do not see how our Savior's prayer can be reconciled with the doctrine of the Trinity expressed in the Athanasian Creed.
Christians understand that the doctrine of the Trinity is a revealed truth. If you cannot understand that God the Father is separate but the same as God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, then it hasn't been given to you to know this distinction, and thus you follow some faith other than Christianity.
Perhaps Christians understand that the doctrine is revealed (although not in the Bible). However, I doubt that many of them actually understand the doctrine itself. Whenever I have asked for a simple explanation, most Christians either evade the question or offer up some form of Modalism.
LOL. Perhaps a dictionary would help.
You are being evasive.
For something that is held to be so essential, it is surprising that the doctrine of the Trinity is present in the Bible only as "fragmentary allusions" that must be assembled from "the disjecta membra" of scripture. It is hard to see how such a doctrine can be held as essential to defining who is and who is not a Christian.
Well, I have to get the children to bed. The answers to your questions about my beliefs will have to wait until a later post.
I didn’t see an answer to a question posed by someone else:
“Do you believe God was once a man?”
Now who's being evasive?
I'll look forward to your answers in the morning.