Thomas Jefferson's Argument On The Doctrine Of The Trinity
In this post, I will discuss the viewpoint of the critics who believe that the doctrine of the Trinity supports polytheism. According to McGrath, in the early part of the nineteenth century, Thomas Jefferson was one of the first leading critics to speak against the doctrine of the Trinity. Jefferson referred to the doctrine as “metaphysical insanities (McGrath, 299).” He argued that these metaphysical insanities “hindered the religious growth of humanity, in that they represented relapses into polytheism, differentiating from paganism only by being more unintelligible (299).”
Also, early Islamic interpreters believed that the doctrine of the Trinity meant that Christians worshiped three distinct Gods or one God with three parts. However, …show more content…
To clarify the relationship between the three persons of the Trinity, McGrath quotes Tertullian as saying that “substance is what the three persons of the Trinity have in common (304).” Tertullian claims that substance cannot be thought of as something thats exist independently of the three persons. Substance, despite the outward appearance of diversity, expresses their common foundational unit. Once the theological foundation of their substance was established by Tertullian, according to McGrath, Cappadocians defended the Trinity’s divine unity by recognizing that the one Godhead existed in “three different modes of being or manners of existence (311).” In other words, Cappadocians argued that they are “one substance in three persons (311).” Despite the argument, radical Christian writers such as Michael Servetus argues that the idea of the doctrine is not biblical because it is not found within the Bible, 1 John 5:7 supports both Cappadocians and Tertullian claim of the Godhead being three persons functioning as one unit. In this verse, the three person function as one unit to bear witness in heaven. In Genesis 1:26 mankind is made from the Godhead’s image. It can also be said that mankind is made
Also, early Islamic interpreters believed that the doctrine of the Trinity meant that Christians worshiped three distinct Gods or one God with three parts. However, …show more content…
To clarify the relationship between the three persons of the Trinity, McGrath quotes Tertullian as saying that “substance is what the three persons of the Trinity have in common (304).” Tertullian claims that substance cannot be thought of as something thats exist independently of the three persons. Substance, despite the outward appearance of diversity, expresses their common foundational unit. Once the theological foundation of their substance was established by Tertullian, according to McGrath, Cappadocians defended the Trinity’s divine unity by recognizing that the one Godhead existed in “three different modes of being or manners of existence (311).” In other words, Cappadocians argued that they are “one substance in three persons (311).” Despite the argument, radical Christian writers such as Michael Servetus argues that the idea of the doctrine is not biblical because it is not found within the Bible, 1 John 5:7 supports both Cappadocians and Tertullian claim of the Godhead being three persons functioning as one unit. In this verse, the three person function as one unit to bear witness in heaven. In Genesis 1:26 mankind is made from the Godhead’s image. It can also be said that mankind is made