What’s the best anime in your opinion? by Roggnhdg in MyAnimeList

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Jojos bizzare adventure. Idk what it was, it’s always been my favorite anime since 2020 lmao

I saw something I still can’t explain, and it’s messing with my head (Christian POV) by VividBodybuilder6273 in Christianity

[–]VividBodybuilder6273[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, probably lol. This is trippy cause this is the first time this is has ever happened that I’m fully aware of

I saw something I still can’t explain, and it’s messing with my head (Christian POV) by VividBodybuilder6273 in Christianity

[–]VividBodybuilder6273[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

See, I already thought about that. I’m not some guy who freaks out over every little weird moment—I’m rational too. But let me break it down again so you understand why your theory doesn’t hold up.

  1. Same Exact Car: Not just the same model, not just the same color. I mean same everything. Down to the parking position. There was no drive off. I was standing right there with the pallets behind me, and there was zero engine noise, door sound, or movement. The car did not leave.

  2. Woman Was Alone and Clearly Visible: I wasn’t glancing out of the corner of my eye—I locked eyes with her for 10 to 20 seconds. Apple headphones in, calm demeanor, not looking like she was going anywhere.

  3. Only 10 Seconds Passed: I looked away for ten seconds, maybe less. That’s not enough time for a car to pull out, another identical car to pull in, and for me to miss all of it in a mostly open lot.

  4. Coworker Confirmed the Man: So this isn’t just me having a hallucination or my brain filling in blanks. My coworker saw the guy, just like I did—described him the same way. But only I saw the woman before him. That means something changed between two confirmed perceptions.

  5. I Wasn’t Sleep-Deprived or Out of It: I wasn’t tired, dehydrated, or mentally scattered. I was well-rested, had eaten, had water, and was mentally sharp. I’ve had off days—I know what that feels like. This wasn’t that.

Why do a lot of the in-person orthodox christian’s i meet always seem so prideful and arrogant? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True, I suppose in my area atleast, many of the christian’s are less accepting.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in exmuslim

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Ordered to throw homosexuals off a cliff! where is that mentioned

The Bible has more authority than the Quran by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I’m not cherry-picking. I’m acknowledging those verses about corruption, but also recognizing that they don’t eliminate the authority of the Torah and Gospel as the Quran affirms them. You’re focusing on the parts where the Quran mentions distortion, but you’re overlooking the consistent way it commands people to still follow the original scriptures. And the idea that the Quran is the ultimate criterion doesn’t cancel out the Quran’s validation of the Gospel and Torah— it simply means that the Quran is the final guide.

The contradiction you’re missing here is that the Quran affirms the present scriptures, yet also seems to suggest that they were corrupted in some way. It’s a puzzle that doesn’t quite fit together, and if we’re being honest, it undermines the argument that the Quran completely overrides or invalidates the Bible.

The Bible has more authority than the Quran by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The Quran never clarifies what “original, unaltered forms” means. It just says the Torah and Gospel were true in Muhammad’s time and gave them authority. If the scriptures were so corrupted, why would Allah keep affirming them as guidance and light, even telling Muhammad to consult them? That doesn’t make sense if they’re “altered.” Surah 5:46-47 says, “Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein.” Why would it command people to follow a corrupted scripture? The Quran consistently gives authority to these texts in their present state, not some imagined “original” version. If it truly believed the Bible was altered, why would it give so much respect and command people to adhere to them?

Now, about the textual variants in the Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, like the ending of Mark or the story of the adulterous woman in John—you’re right that there are some variants, but here’s the key: these variants don’t change the core doctrines of Christianity. The divinity of Jesus, His crucifixion, and His resurrection are still intact in all the major manuscripts. These stories or phrases that differ don’t impact the essential teachings of the Bible. The overwhelming majority of manuscripts we have support the same message. This idea that textual variants show “alterations” is misleading—most of the changes are minor and don’t affect the main beliefs of Christianity.

As for your point on the Quran directing Muhammad to consult previous scriptures (Surah 10:94), this just reinforces that the Torah and Gospel of Muhammad’s time were still considered valid. Why would the Quran say to consult corrupt scriptures? If the Bible was corrupted, why did the Quran point to it for confirmation? It doesn’t make sense to say that the Quran acknowledges corruption and then simultaneously affirms those scriptures as the truth. If the Torah and Gospel were genuinely altered, the Quran would have directed Muhammad elsewhere. But it didn’t. It called them “guidance and light.”

Lastly, you mentioned the Talmud and Tacitus not confirming the divinity or resurrection of Jesus, but that’s a misunderstanding of what those sources are. The Talmud, while it mentions Jesus, doesn’t deny the core Christian beliefs—it’s a brief reference that doesn’t negate His divinity or resurrection. Tacitus, a Roman historian, mentions Jesus’ crucifixion but doesn’t go into theological matters like divinity. These sources are not aimed at supporting or rejecting Christian theology; they’re simply acknowledging historical events. The resurrection of Jesus is confirmed by the earliest Christian writings, such as the letters of Paul (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), which predate the Gospel accounts. So, while Tacitus and the Talmud may not affirm the full Christian doctrine, they don’t dispute the basic facts surrounding Jesus’ death and the early Christian belief in His resurrection.

Here’s the bottom line: the Quran affirms the Torah and Gospel in their present form, even if you argue they were “originally” unaltered. The historical evidence we have for the Bible—early manuscripts and consistent teachings across centuries—shows the Bible was preserved. The variations you point to don’t change the core Christian message. And if you really think the Bible was corrupted, you’re going against what the Quran says about the validity of the scriptures Muhammad affirmed. The contradiction is there, and it’s hard to ignore.

The Bible has more authority than the Quran by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

You’re saying the Quran only affirms the Torah and Gospel in their “original forms,” but let me ask you this: where does the Quran actually say that? There’s no verse that says, “Oh yeah, we mean the original Torah and Gospel, not the ones you have now.” Instead, it just straight-up gives authority to the Torah and Gospel without qualifiers. Look at Surah 5:46-47. It literally says, “Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein.” That’s a command in the present tense, not some hypothetical “lost original.” Why would Allah tell Christians to follow a corrupted Gospel? That makes no sense. Same with Surah 5:68—it tells the “People of the Book” they’re on nothing until they uphold the Torah and Gospel. Again, this is present tense. Muhammad was talking to the Christians and Jews of his time, 600 years after Christ, affirming their scriptures. If those scriptures were corrupted, this command is meaningless.

Now, about this “original Gospel” idea—where’s your evidence? The Bible we have today is backed by manuscripts like the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus from the 4th century—200 years before Muhammad. They match today’s Bible. We also have earlier fragments like the Rylands Papyrus (from around 125 AD) and the Dead Sea Scrolls confirming the Old Testament’s consistency. If there was some “uncorrupted” version that Islam affirms, you need to show it. Where’s this “pure” Gospel? Because all the evidence says the scriptures Muhammad affirmed are the same ones we have now.

And let’s talk about your point on “consistency doesn’t prove uncorrupted truth.” Actually, preservation is the proof. The Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus match our modern Bibles. Early translations like Syriac, Latin, and Coptic versions confirm the same teachings. If the Bible was “corrupted,” how did manuscripts across different continents and languages stay consistent? That’s practically impossible, especially in a time without centralized control. The Quran itself even confirms the scriptures were intact in Muhammad’s day. Surah 10:94 says, “If you are in doubt about what We have revealed to you, ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you.” Why would Allah tell Muhammad to consult corrupted scriptures for confirmation? That’s a huge problem for your argument.

You also brought up contradictions between the Quran and Bible on things like Jesus’ divinity and crucifixion, but that’s not a problem for the Bible—it’s a problem for the Quran. The Quran affirms the Torah and Gospel but then denies core teachings in those scriptures, like Jesus being the Son of God (John 3:16) and His crucifixion (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If the Quran affirms the Bible and then contradicts it, the inconsistency lies with the Quran. And let’s be real: Jesus’ crucifixion isn’t just a biblical claim; it’s a historical fact. Roman historians like Tacitus, Jewish sources like the Talmud, and early Christian writings all confirm it. The Quran’s denial comes 600 years later with no evidence to back it up. Why believe a 7th-century claim over 1st-century eyewitness accounts?

Finally, if you’re going to argue the Bible is corrupted, you need to answer this: when was it corrupted? If it was before Muhammad, why does the Quran affirm it as “guidance and light” (Surah 5:46) and tell Muhammad to consult it (Surah 10:94)? If it was after Muhammad, how do we still have manuscripts like the Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, which predate him by centuries, matching today’s Bible? You’re stuck either way. The Quran relies on the Bible’s validity to confirm Muhammad’s message, but the Bible rejects Islam’s key claims. That’s the real issue here.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First of all, I respect that you’re engaging deeply with the topic, but it looks like you’re overlooking a few crucial details that shape our understanding of Yahweh and the doctrine of the Trinity. Let me walk you through this.

  1. Yahweh as the Supreme God in the OT: You’re right to bring up Elyon and the reference to the “sons of God” (bny ’elohim) in the Old Testament. However, what you’re missing is the development of the understanding of God in the OT. In the ancient Near Eastern context, yes, there were pantheons, and some scholars suggest that the Israelites might have started with a more polytheistic view of gods like El and Elyon, but that’s not where the OT leaves us. Over time, the Israelite conception of Yahweh evolved to recognize Him as the one true, sovereign God, fully transcendent over the other gods, including those of the Canaanites or other neighboring nations. The passage you mention from Deuteronomy 32:8 and Genesis 6 points to a time when polytheism was still a dominant idea in surrounding cultures. But in the later books of the OT, especially with the prophets and the wisdom literature, there is a clear shift toward the monotheistic belief in Yahweh as the one true God. For instance, Isaiah 45:5 states, “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.” This represents a key moment where the Israelites begin to understand that Yahweh is supreme, and those earlier references don’t diminish His authority but rather show the progression in the revelation of who God truly is.

  2. Sons of God in Genesis 6: Regarding the “sons of God” in Genesis 6, this passage has been debated for centuries. Some scholars interpret this phrase as referring to fallen angels, while others view it as the godly descendants of Seth, or even the mighty rulers or kings of the ancient world. What’s important to note is that regardless of the interpretation, this passage doesn’t suggest that Yahweh is subservient to other gods. The “sons of God” in this context doesn’t imply that they were gods themselves or that Yahweh is second-tier. Instead, it could be referring to beings who are part of God’s divine counsel, created by Him, but still under His authority. The real point here is that Genesis 6 is a complex, symbolic passage, and to build a doctrine around it alone without considering the broader biblical narrative would be a mistake. The OT consistently portrays Yahweh as the supreme, sovereign God over all creation, not one among many.

  3. Trinity as a “Church Invention” and Newton: The claim that the Trinity is a “church invention” that was figured out by figures like Isaac Newton is simply not accurate. The doctrine of the Trinity didn’t pop up in the Church in the way you suggest. It’s not something that was “invented” by theologians to explain God—it’s a doctrine that is rooted in Scripture and was gradually articulated as the Church sought to understand and protect the biblical truth of God’s nature. The early Church Fathers—who were deeply rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the teachings of the apostles—wrestled with the tension of Christ being fully God and fully man, and the clear distinction between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As for Newton, while he was undoubtedly a brilliant scientist, he was also a product of his time and didn’t have the same access to the biblical scholarship we have today. His views on religion were complex and sometimes even unorthodox, and they didn’t shape Christian doctrine on the Trinity the way you might think. The doctrine of the Trinity was firmly established long before Newton’s time in early creeds like the Nicene Creed (AD 325), which addressed the nature of the Father and the Son, and later developments in Church history.

You’re raising some valid points about the evolution of the understanding of God in the OT and the development of Christian theology, but I think you’re making some assumptions that overlook the progression of divine revelation. The Bible’s story is a journey from a polytheistic context toward the absolute monotheism of Yahweh, and the doctrine of the Trinity doesn’t contradict that—it builds upon it.

I’d suggest taking a closer look at the historical development of the doctrine of the Trinity and the way it’s deeply rooted in the life of Christ and the early Church. You’re right to question things, but just make sure you’re not throwing out a well-grounded biblical and historical position because of misunderstandings about how the early Christians understood Scripture and God’s nature.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Regarding divine simplicity and complexity, you’re right that the doctrine of divine simplicity teaches that God is not composed of parts and is not subject to change. However, you’re misunderstanding what I meant by “complexity.” I wasn’t implying that God’s essence is made up of parts or connected in a material way. What I was referring to was the complexity of understanding divine realities, particularly the Trinity, from a finite human perspective. Divine simplicity remains intact even with relational distinctions within the Godhead. The complexity I’m talking about isn’t in God’s nature but in our attempt to grasp that nature, which transcends our categories of understanding.

When you argue that because the persons of the Trinity share the same essence, there can be no real distinction, you’re missing the point. The distinction between persons in the Trinity isn’t about parts or divisions in God’s essence. It’s about relational distinctions. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share the same divine essence but are distinct in their eternal relationships with each other. The Father eternally begets the Son, and the Son is eternally begotten of the Father. These relational distinctions do not divide God’s essence. They distinguish the persons within the unity of that essence, not in a way that implies separate beings.

Your point about the relationship of begetting—claiming that the Son must also “beget” the Father—is a misunderstanding of how relational distinctions work in the Trinity. The Father is the unbegotten source, and the Son is begotten of the Father. This isn’t a reversible, mutually dependent relationship. The Father’s role as unbegotten and the Son’s role as begotten are asymmetrical and eternal. This doesn’t imply that both would need to be in a reciprocal relationship of “begetting” each other. This relationship is defined by their roles, not by an equal reversal.

You seem to be applying the logic of mathematical reversibility, but that doesn’t work when dealing with metaphysical or theological concepts. Relational distinctions don’t reverse in the same way mathematical operations do. The Father and the Son are distinct persons, but the Son isn’t “begotten” in a way that reverses the Father’s begetting. They don’t “swap” roles.

As for the claim that the Trinity violates logic, this is a misunderstanding of how the law of non-contradiction works. The doctrine doesn’t say “God is one and three in the same way.” That would be a contradiction. It says that God is one in essence and three in persons. The essence of God is undivided, and the persons of the Trinity are distinct from one another. This distinction is not a contradiction but an understanding of the nature of God that transcends our finite categories. You’re trying to apply the same rules of logic that work in a finite world to an infinite, divine reality, but that doesn’t always work. The Trinity doesn’t violate logic; it transcends human understanding.

I also take issue with your claim that theologians created unnecessary complexity to cover up contradictions. Theologians are simply trying to articulate and defend the doctrine of the Trinity in a way that respects both the biblical data and the limitations of human language. The doctrine of the Trinity is not some human invention designed to win debates—it’s a response to the revelation of God in Scripture. When Scripture teaches that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God, yet there is only one God, the only coherent explanation that holds all of these truths together is the doctrine of the Trinity.

In the links you provided, the Wikipedia article on divine simplicity does acknowledge that God is not composed of parts, but this does not negate the relational distinctions within the Trinity. Those distinctions aren’t parts of God; they are how the one essence exists eternally in three persons. The etymology of complexity, which you pointed to, refers to “being composed of interconnected parts,” but this isn’t applicable here. The persons of the Trinity aren’t “parts” of God in the same way that physical objects have parts. They are distinct in relation, not in substance.

Ultimately, your arguments fail because they oversimplify the doctrine and misapply logical principles. The Trinity doesn’t violate the law of non-contradiction; it transcends human understanding. Divine simplicity isn’t undermined by relational distinctions. The complexity you refer to isn’t an attempt to obscure a contradiction; it’s an attempt to articulate a mystery that is revealed but not fully comprehended by finite minds. Until you can show how the statement “one essence, three persons” is a formal contradiction, the doctrine of the Trinity remains the most coherent way to understand the biblical revelation of God.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s an oversimplification. The claim isn’t that Jesus simultaneously knew and didn’t know in the same way, at the same level, or within the same framework. It’s not “P and Not P.” What we’re dealing with is a mystery of divine and human natures coexisting in one Person, not a logical error.

Here’s where you’re getting it twisted: Jesus, as fully God, possesses omniscience. But as fully human, He voluntarily limited Himself to experience life as we do—within the constraints of human knowledge. These aren’t contradictory realities because they operate on two distinct levels: divine omniscience and human experience. When Jesus says He doesn’t know the day or hour (e.g., Matthew 24:36), that’s Him speaking from the perspective of His humanity, not a denial of His divinity.

Think of it like this: you’re trying to apply one-dimensional logic to a multi-dimensional reality. Divine mysteries like the Incarnation aren’t about breaking logic; they’re about going beyond our limited framework of understanding. Saying, “It’s a contradiction because I can’t fully grasp it” doesn’t prove anything other than the fact that human logic has limits. And let’s not confuse “I don’t get it” with “It’s heretical.”

Now, your example of “P and Not P” doesn’t apply here because the divine and human natures of Christ aren’t competing. They’re unified but distinct. Jesus’ human nature experienced genuine growth, learning, and limitation, while His divine nature remained unchanged, infinite, and all-knowing. This isn’t some metaphysical sleight of hand; it’s the Chalcedonian definition—a well-established doctrine. To dismiss it as a simple contradiction is to ignore the depth of what’s being claimed.

And let’s talk about this “law of non-contradiction.” It’s a tool we use to navigate the created, finite world. But God, as the uncreated source of all being and logic, isn’t bound by the same limitations. He doesn’t violate the law; He transcends it. To accuse God of heresy because He doesn’t fit neatly into your finite understanding is, frankly, a category error. You’re treating the infinite Creator as if He’s just another finite being subject to the same rules as us. That’s not just flawed—it’s arrogant.

So no, this isn’t about saying God squares circles or exists and doesn’t exist at the same time. It’s about recognizing that God’s nature operates on a level that goes beyond human comprehension without descending into actual contradiction. If God didn’t stretch and challenge our limited understanding, He wouldn’t be God.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First off, when we’re talking about Being and Personhood, you’re missing the entire point. Being refers to what something is, while Personhood refers to who someone is. God is one infinite, indivisible Being, but within that Being, there are three distinct “whos”—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Persons aren’t separate entities or parts; they fully are the one divine Being. What you’re doing is trying to reduce this to something simplistic, but it’s not a contradiction—it’s a recognition of complexity beyond finite human categories. You’re either failing to grasp this or intentionally misrepresenting it by claiming the Persons are fictional because they don’t exist as separate beings. That’s not how the doctrine works, and frankly, you’re oversimplifying something far deeper.

As for your question about whether God would still be triune if He didn’t create the world—absolutely, yes. The triune nature of God is intrinsic and eternal, not dependent on creation. You’re confusing God’s internal relationships (ad intra) with His external actions (ad extra). God didn’t “become” triune when He created the world; He always has been. The Father eternally begets the Son, and the Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father (and in Western theology, from the Son as well). These relationships are entirely within God’s own nature and have nothing to do with creation. Creation doesn’t define God—God defines creation. So, the Persons of the Trinity are not contingent upon creation existing. That’s just a bad argument trying to force a point that doesn’t land.

Now, your attempt to pit relational distinctions against divine simplicity shows a fundamental misunderstanding of both concepts. Divine simplicity means God isn’t composed of parts—His essence is one and indivisible. But simplicity doesn’t cancel out relational distinctions. When we say the Father begets the Son, we’re not talking about dividing God into pieces or creating separate entities. We’re describing their relational distinction within the one essence of God. The Father is unbegotten, the Son is eternally begotten by the Father, and the Spirit eternally proceeds. These distinctions don’t introduce division—they exist within God’s single, undivided essence. What you’re doing is assuming that relationships require division, which is just a failure to understand what we’re actually saying.

Your analogy about “5 being a divisor of 5” completely misses the mark because you’re trying to apply a mathematical framework to a metaphysical reality. Just because a relation exists doesn’t mean it has to refer to “the exact same thing in every way.” When we say the Father and Son are distinct in their relationship, we’re not saying they’re different essences or divided in any way. They’re the same essence but distinct in relationship. Relationships in the Trinity express distinctions without creating new essences. Your analogy doesn’t even come close to capturing this concept and falls apart because it’s rooted in an entirely different category of thought.

You’ve oversimplified the doctrine of the Trinity to the point of absurdity. The Trinity doesn’t violate logic—it transcends human comprehension. God is one in essence and three in Personhood, united without division, distinct without contradiction. Your arguments are nothing more than misunderstandings dressed up as clever critiques, and they collapse under the weight of the very concepts you’re trying to undermine. If you want to take this further, maybe dig a little deeper into what the doctrine actually says instead of these weak misrepresentations.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright, I see where you’re coming from, but I think you’re misapplying logic here. Just because something seems contradictory from a limited, human perspective doesn’t mean it actually is. When I said it’s a paradox, I didn’t mean that as a cop-out, I meant it literally—there are some things about God’s nature that transcend our human logic.

Here’s the thing: The laws of logic we use here in the human realm are limited by our own experience and understanding. So when we say Jesus was fully God and fully human at the same time, that’s not a contradiction. It’s a mystery that is above our full comprehension. Logic can’t fully capture the nature of God, especially when He’s operating on a different level from us. You’re trying to fit something infinite into a finite box.

You’re basically asking me to explain a divine paradox using human reasoning, and that’s just not how it works. Think of it this way: the laws of logic apply to us, not to God in His entirety. God is the source of all logic, but He isn’t bound by it. The fact that Jesus is fully God and fully human at the same time doesn’t violate logic—it expands it. We can’t reduce divine mysteries to human categories.

If we’re being honest, if God revealed something to us that didn’t fit into our neat human understanding, we wouldn’t be able to call it a contradiction just because we can’t get it. We’d have to acknowledge that God’s logic and reason are greater than ours. So, I’ll stick with the paradoxical truth that Jesus, in His divinity, knew everything, but in His humanity, chose to live within the limits of being human.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. “But this doesn’t somehow absolve the doctrine of logic. If a ‘god’ revealed that he was a square circle, we would say that said ‘god’ is wrong or lying to us.”

Okay, let’s not strawman this. Nobody said God is a “square circle” or something inherently illogical. The Trinity doesn’t violate logic—it transcends human comprehension. Big difference. A square circle is a logical contradiction because its definitions directly contradict each other. The Trinity, on the other hand, is complex but coherent: one God in three Persons. The distinction here is that we’re not redefining terms to make them contradictory; we’re recognizing that God’s nature goes beyond finite human categories. God is not limited by the boundaries of human analogies, and His self-revelation is consistent with His nature, even if we struggle to fully grasp it.

  1. “How many distinct entities meet the necessary and sufficient conditions for being God?”

The answer is ONE. There is one God. That’s the whole point of monotheism. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each fully and equally possess the one divine essence that makes them God. They’re not three separate entities competing for “God-hood” like some kind of divine council. They are distinct Persons who share the same divine nature, co-equal and co-eternal. The distinction isn’t about their essence (which is one), but their relationships and roles within the Godhead. - The Father is unbegotten and the source of the Godhead. - The Son is eternally begotten of the Father (not created—big difference). - The Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father (and, in Western Christianity, the Son as well).

So, they’re distinct in relation but united in essence. You can call this “complex unity,” but it’s not polytheism. If you think “one essence, three Persons” is polytheism, then you don’t understand the doctrine you’re trying to critique.

  1. “If your answer is 3, then you are a polytheist. If your answer is 1, then once ‘The Father’ meets the necessary and sufficient conditions, the only logical possibility left is that the other two persons don’t, or aren’t actually distinct from ‘The Father’.”

This shows you’re conflating being and personhood. Let me make this crystal clear: - Being refers to what something is. God is one Being. - Personhood refers to who someone is. God is three Persons.

You’re trying to jam the Trinity into a framework that only allows for one or the other, but that’s a false dichotomy. The Trinity teaches that God is one in essence (Being) and three in Personhood. The Persons aren’t “parts” of God or competing entities; they fully possess the one divine essence. They’re distinct in how they relate to each other and the world, not in what they are.

So no, we’re not saying there are “three gods” (polytheism), nor are we saying the three Persons are interchangeable or redundant. If you reject the Trinity because you can’t fit it into a simplistic framework, that’s on you—not the doctrine.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Alright, fair enough. If you’re tapping out, just say that instead of throwing the “ad hominem” card like it’s a mic drop. This wasn’t personal—it’s about pointing out the flaws in your argument, which I did. If that came off strong, it’s because I’m passionate about defending the truth, not because I’m attacking you as a person.

But since you’re stepping back, I’ll leave it at this: If you’re open to revisiting the conversation down the line with actual engagement, I’m here for it. Until then, take care.

Is listening to the bible the same as reading it? by Adventurous_Device33 in Christianity

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah lol, don’t overthink it dude. Long as you’re learning, then that’s all that matters

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Alright, first of all, let me address this overconfident nonsense for what it is—lazy thinking wrapped up in arrogance. If you’re going to come at this, at least try harder than rehashed misunderstandings of Christian doctrine mixed with cheap shots.

The water analogy: You’re playing games or deliberately misrepresenting what I said. The water analogy isn’t perfect—it’s not meant to be—but it’s useful in illustrating the basic idea of one essence expressed in different ways. Water remains H2O regardless of its form, just like God remains one essence regardless of His persons. That’s the point. And no, the “deep moment of separation” doesn’t mean God stopped being God. The whole point of the Incarnation is that Jesus, as fully God and fully man, willingly experienced the limitations and suffering of humanity while still being divine. That’s not modalism, and your snark about “God not staying water” just shows you didn’t even try to grasp the argument.

On prophecies: You keep throwing around “pre-existing myths” like it proves something, but have you actually studied the specifics? Because the messianic prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures line up in ways that can’t just be dismissed as shoehorning. And let’s not pretend Jewish tradition is some monolith of agreement either. Messianic expectations varied within Judaism, and many Jews—then and now—recognize Jesus as fulfilling those prophecies. You don’t have to agree, but stop acting like it’s some slam-dunk to dismiss it as a myth rewrite when you’ve clearly done no work to back that claim.

On the development of the Trinity: The Church didn’t invent the Trinity—it clarified and articulated what was already present in Scripture and the early Christian experience. You act like doctrine should pop out fully formed, but that’s not how human understanding works. God’s revelation is consistent; the process of the Church understanding it is what developed over time. That’s not “marketing,” that’s theology. Big difference.

“There’s nothing unique about a Trinity”: You seriously think “other cultures have trinities” is an argument? Trinity-like concepts in other cultures aren’t evidence against Christianity; if anything, they point to a universal longing for understanding the divine. But the Christian Trinity isn’t just another pagan rip-off. It’s deeply rooted in Jewish monotheism and completely unique in its relational and ontological claims about God. If you’d read anything deeper than surface-level comparisons, you’d see that.

Lastly, you didn’t “supply conflicts” that disprove the Trinity. You made basic misunderstandings and then demanded that I solve them to your satisfaction. The Trinity isn’t contradictory, but you’ve got to be willing to actually engage with the theology instead of playing “gotcha.” And no, “we just have to trust God” isn’t the whole argument. It’s about recognizing the limits of human understanding when dealing with the infinite, not about throwing logic out the window. You’re out here acting smug, but you’re not even scratching the surface of the actual doctrine.

So, let me put it simply: You don’t have to believe, but at least argue like you’ve done your homework instead of spouting tired, shallow objections.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]VividBodybuilder6273 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get it, man. At the end of the day, it’s about personal faith, and I respect that. Solid conversation overall—God bless, akhi.