Philippine President Duterte says Christian belief in Trinity is ‘silly’

Rappler ^ | 12/29/2018 | Mara Cepeda

[SeekAndFind]

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte mocked the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, calling it “silly” on Saturday, December 29.

In a speech in Kidapawan City, Cotabato, the President attacked the doctrine of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as he once again went into a tirade against priests and the Catholic Church.

"You’re already praying at one God, then you’re going to pray at these cursed saints. There’s only one God. There’s only one God, period. You cannot divide God into 3, that’s silly,” said the President.

Before attacking the Holy Trinity doctrine, Duterte said Jesus Christ is “unimpressive” because he had allowed himself to be nailed on the cross.

"Your God was nailed on the cross. How unimpressive. I’m God and you will crucify me? I’d tell them, ‘Lightning, finish all of them. Burn all the non-believers.'"

The passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is among the central doctrines of Christian faith, with Christians believing that Jesus sacrificed himself to save the world from sin.

The President likewise belittled the belief in saints, whom he previously called as “fools” and “drunkards.”

"Saint Catalina, Saint Anne, Saint Thomas, Saint Sebastian, Saint Rodrigo, they’re nothing… I don’t know them. Look, those documents were written – if at all – 3,000 years ago. Why would they care about our lives now?"

"Who wrote about them? Who’s Saint Thomas? We don’t know who they are. That might even be a name for a cow or camel then"

The President – under whose term a string of priests have been murdered – had previously stirred controversy for calling God “stupid."

On December 6, Duterte even joked that bishops should be “killed” for supposedly doing nothing but criticizing his administration, which is waging a bloody war against drugs that has killed thousands.

[Oscar in Batangas]

Maybe he can travel to the Vatican where he and Frankie can start up a whole new religion.
Just for the two of them???

[af_vet_1981]

Yet another independent restorationist faith community trying to reestablish Christianity once and for all in its own image ...

Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)[4][5] (Tagalog pronunciation: [ɪˈglɛ̝ʃɐ ni ˈkɾisto̞], abbreviated as INC) is an independent nontrinitarian Christian religious organization that originated in the Philippines. It was registered in 1914 by Felix Y. Manalo,[6][7][8] who became its first Executive Minister.

The Iglesia ni Cristo affirms to be the one true church and the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus, and that all other Christian churches are apostates.[7][9] INC doctrine cites that the official registration of the Church with the Government of the Philippine Islands on July 27, 1914, by Felix Y. Manalo—upheld by its members to be the last messenger of God—was an act of divine providence and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy concerning the re-establishment of the Church in the Far East[10][11] concurrent with the coming of the seventh seal marking the end of days.[1][12]

By the time of Manalo's death in 1963, the Iglesia ni Cristo had become a nationwide church with 1,250 local chapels and 35 large concrete cathedrals.[13] His son, Eraño G. Manalo, became the next church leader and led a campaign to grow and internationalize the church until his death on August 31, 2009,[14] whereupon his son, Eduardo V. Manalo, succeeded him as Executive Minister.[15] In 2010, the Philippine census by the National Statistics Office found that 2.45% of the population in the Philippines are affiliated with the Iglesia ni Cristo, making it the religion with the third largest number of adherents, with Islam at 5.57% and Roman Catholicism at 80.58%.[2][16]

[af_vet_1981]

Does he ever explain where his sources are and how he comes to his conclusions? It’s definitely not the Bible.

I assume he reads and interprets the Bible for himself ...

[af_vet_1981]

The belief in the trinity itself goes back to at least 100 AD, so it's certainly a part of Christian theology from the start, although it's always had opponents.

One holy catholic and apostolic Church, some twenty centuries of Church history, and these restorationist offshoots are still popping up.

[fishtank]

False restorationism: An Authority + the bible.

True Reformation: Sola Scriptura

[fishtank]

James White debates “Iglesia ni Cristo” member Joe Ventilacion

https://youtu.be/ZnElgAnN414

[fishtank]

The RCC is neither:

One

Holy

Catholic

Or

Apostolic.

Been there done that. Rome is a deceiver.

[LadyDoc]

he is using typical Filipino irony/hyperbole.

Duterte has over 70 percent approval here: As for murders, since he came to office, crime is down 24 percent, and murders up only 1 percent.

But now the MSM in the US and some of the press here blame every murder on him, even when the murder has nothing to do with the drug war... the press here follows the meme of the liberals in the USA and the CIA who wanted one of their employees to win the presidency.

The elites hate him because he is going after their corruption.
Every death is blamed on the drug war, even when druggies kill snitches or drug addled thieve kill during robberies, or when politicians order hits on their rivals so they can stay in office and continue to rob the city of funds, as has happened in our town in the past.

I have to laugh: Our church has a “no murder” poster up. However, the corrupt mayor who ordered a hit on his rival (killing our nephew in the crossfire) was given a big Catholic funeral complete with the Knights of Columbus bodyguard.

As for the Trinity: He's just saying what the Muslims and the Unitarians say. Big deal. He is saying that to get the bishops angry.

the bishops tend to be related to the elites

[LadyDoc]

I should add this is from Rappler. Last year, they were cited for accepting foreign money to fund their website. They defended themselves, but a quick google showed one of their donors was a Ukrainian millionaire with USA CIA ties. So take it with a grain of salt.

[Elsie]

Philippine President Duterte says Christian belief in Trinity is ‘silly’

Of course it is!

[Elsie]

I’d tell them, ‘Lightning, finish all of them. Burn all the non-believers.'"

I see...

[Elsie]

Mark17; you are in the belly of the beast: Pontificate for us!

[Mark17]

In a speech in Kidapawan City, Cotabato,

Mark17; you are in the belly of the beast: Pontificate for us!

I am indeed sir, in the belly of the beast, 117 KM from Kidapawan. I asked my maid, who is catholic herself, about Duterte. It was her opinion, that Duterte is not a JW, or INC, but that he is nominally a catholic, with really strange beliefs. The politicians try to curry favor with the INC, since their leaders always tell them who to vote for. I never go to Kidapawan, however. Too many muzzies there. 👎

[Elsie]

...nominally a catholic, with really strange beliefs.

Dang!

He could post HERE!

[af_vet_1981]

Name an alternative that is one holy, catholic, and apostolic, and it must be real, visible, addressable, and historical. All of the Protestant faith communities, including their progeny like the aforementioned Philippine restorationist faith community/cult have real historical timelines.

The result of this exercise is there is no other contestant which is not imaginary.

[af_vet_1981]

Notwithstanding that True Reformation demonstrates a date some fifteen centuries after the faith was once delivered to the saints, and that most Protestant faith communities diverged, and did not agree as to what precisely sola scriptura meant, and that the Anabaptists were still persecuted by said communities for their interpretation of said scriptures, the re-formation did effectively start a whole new series of religion(s) striving to go back those fifteen centuries, and are still in the same business of restoration today, since no tradition is the new tradition. This is the consequence of divorce and the origin of the Samaritans. However, salvation remained of the Jews and not the Samaritans.

[Mark17]

All of the Protestant faith communities, including their progeny like the aforementioned Philippine restorationist faith community/cult have real historical timelines.

Which Philippine restorationst faith community would that be bro? I have never heard of anything called that before. There are some good non Catholic Churches in the Philippines, but they never call themselves that name. The ones I know have assurance of salvation. Now, my question would be, do YOU have any assurance of salvation, like these Philippine believers do? My guess would be, that you don’t, and that’s sad, cuz I surely do. If you don’t, that’s on you. 👎

[Mark17]

However, salvation remained of the Jews and not the Samaritans.

So, which one are you bro? A Jew, or a Samaritan? 😁😇😂

[Luircin]

Christians are the Church, not ‘faith communities,’ no matter how prideful Roman Catholics might get.

[af_vet_1981]

Which Philippine restorationst faith community would that be bro?

Aforementioned, as in post 22 and even prior to that in this thread.

Now, my question would be, do YOU have any assurance of salvation, like these Philippine believers do? My guess would be, that you don’t, ...

Yes, he that endures to the end shall be saved. The Messiah emphasized this truth and warned His disciples many times to watch and always be ready.