Woman With A Guitar - Georges Braque

ABSTRACT: This article discusses a problem that has plagued Philosophers thoughout the centuries, and suggests that the Doctrine of the Trinity may point towards the resolution.

Think about all the things that we as Christians do. Sooo much. We have all kinds of large groups meetings, like Festivals, Christian concerts, retreats, and all kinds of small group meetings, like attending church, bible study, choir practice, and so on. Guess what ??? It is all patterned on a Trinitarian reality. Whether we realize it or not, we live a life in the Trinity. How so ? Lets see.

Let me once again state with the Doctrine.

The Doctrine of the Trinity:

1) There is only one God.
AND
2) The Son(Jesus) is God.
3) The Holy Spirit is God.
4) The Father is God.
5) F=/= HSP, F =/= JC, and JC =/= HSP.

=/= : not equals, i.e. Is not the same as.

Thats it. C'est Ca, my friend. No need to worry about terms like substantia, ousia, hypostasis, persons, etc...terms which are often the staple of theologians, but really often are unneccesary in understanding this Doctrine and its implications for our life..

Notice that (2) to (4) are still difficult to reconcile with (1). How to make sense of how thats possible ? You cant. This is the locus of the mystery in this Doctrine. As far as I know, no one to date has been able to make sense of how this is so.

Moving right along.

If one studies the history of Philosophy, one will see that there is a particular problem, that has plagued Philosophers throughout the ages. Each age has had to face up to or or another variant of this problem, and each age has provided its own answers. Anyway, what is this problem ? Answer: The Problem of the One and the Many.

I will try to explain the nature of this problem by resort to example, rather than by going into philosophical formalities.

Question:

1)Which do you think is a better form of government ? Capitalism, which favors the individual(The One) or Socialism, which favors the State(the Many)?

Karl Marx favored the Many, we here in the U.S. of A have favored the One.

2) If you are studying for an exam, in lets say Biology, which is more important ? knowing just the minute details, or just to have a general idea, a general picture of the whole ?

Which is more important, seeing the forest, and not the trees, or vice versa ?

3) Is the whole greater than the parts or are the parts greater than the whole ?

Both the individual and the group are equally important. The Whole is not greater than the Parts, it is equally important.

Practicals:

How does this affect our everyday christian life ? I.e what is the practicality of the Doctrine of the Trinity ?

Bible Study: Well... we do our Bible study both in Groups, and alone as individuals. Neither must be neglected. They are both equally important. One reason for getting stuck in theological swamps is because of a lack of Group study. As iron sharpens iron. I know someone in my Church, who only started to shed certain erroneous after he started attending group bible study.

Anyways, so do you attend a group(cell) Bible study ?

What else ???

Prayer: We pray together, not just alone. Do you attend the prayer meetings at Church and pray together with other people, or do you just pray by your own self ? Could that be one reason why your prayers are not getting answered ??? Both individual prayer(the One) and group(the Many) prayer is important. This is the Trinitarian pattern of life. Dont get struck in a prayer slumps !

What else ???