“It is said that once John of
Chrysostom was walking along the seashore thinking over the question of the
trinity and trying to reconcile it with finite reason; his attention was
attracted to a boy sitting on the shore putting water into a cup. Approaching
him, he said, “My child, what art thou doing?” “I am trying to put the sea into
this cup,” was the answer. “How foolish art thou,” said John, “in trying to do
the impossible”. The child replied,
“Thy work is stranger than mine, for thou art laboring to bring within the
grasp of human intellect the conception of the trinity.”
Let us, free from past tradition, investigate the reality of this
matter. What is the meaning of the father and the son?
This fatherhood and sonship are allegorical and symbolical. The
Messianic reality is like unto a mirror through which the sun of divinity has
become resplendent. If this mirror expresses “The light is in me” it is sincere
in its claim; therefore Jesus was truthful when he said, “The Father is in me
The sun in the sky and the sun in the mirror are one, are they
not? - and yet we see there are apparently two suns.”
(Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 152)
Yes
indeed! The Trinity is hard to grasp! Frankly, it is beyond human capacity to
understand. This fact has led to endless debate on the subject. No one can
agree for no one knows. Thus, this enduring enigma has been a source of
confused abuse and a deep source of contention for literally thousands of
years.
Scriptures
are explored addressing two fundamental issues:
1.
Is God, in
essence, indivisible, or is there some sort of plurality?
2.
How is the
idea of a Trinity expressed? Is the Trinity indicative of the Reality within
God or is it better understood as a relationship or covenant between God and
mankind?
Beginning
with the first question:
There
are Scriptural passages from different Faiths that use terms such as ‘WE”, “Us”
“My”, He” or “I” in relation to the creative force of God. In other words it
would seem God is beyond numbers such as “three” or “one” yet there is a force
from God that “Descends into space from the mansions of
eternity,”
Baha’u’llah,
Tablet of the Holy Mariner.
Genesis: 1: 26-27 reads,” Then God
said,” Let us make man in our own image, in our likeness. - So God created man
in his own image, in the image of God he created him”. (Here God
is referred to as “Us” “Our” and “He”.)
Baha’u’llah addresses:
68.” O CHILDREN OF MEN!
Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory”
(Baha'u'llah,
The Arabic Hidden Words)
Note the use of “We” and “My”.
“The whole creation hath been made the
recipient of the revelation of the All-Merciful, and the earth the repository
of things inscrutable to all except God, the Truth, the Knower of things
unseen. The time is approaching when every created thing will have cast its
burden. Glorified be God Who hath vouchsafed this grace that encompasseth all
things, whether seen or unseen! Thus have We created the whole earth anew in
this day, yet most of the people have failed to perceive it. Say: The grace of
God can never be adequately understood; how much less can His own Self, the
Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, be comprehended!”
(Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 25)
“We” and “Who” are used in the above
passage. God has vouchsafed this grace…Thus have We created… Is Grace somehow
related to some incomprehensible partnership of creation?
As
has been shown, scriptures use plural and singular designations for God on a
regular basis. Now lets explore the concept of “Trinity” as described in
different Faiths.
“Hindus not only believe in
the divinity of Lord Krishna but in being “born again”. The Trinity is central
to their doctrine.
“The Brahmin caste of the Hindus are said to be "twice-born"
and have a ritual in which they are "born in the spirit." Could this
be the ultimate source of the Christian "born again" concept (John
3:3)?
The deification of Christ is a phenomenon often attributed to the
apotheosis of emperors and heroes in the Greco-Roman world. These, however,
were cases of men becoming gods. In the Jesus story, the Divinity takes human
form, god becoming man. This is a familiar occurrence in Hinduism and in other
theologies of the region. Indeed, one obstacle to the spread of Christianity in
India, which was attempted as early as the first century, was the frustrating
tendency of the Hindus to understand Jesus as the latest avatar (incarnation)
of Vishnu.
It is in the doctrine of the Trinity that the
Hindu influence may be most clearly felt. Unknown to most Christians, Hinduism
has a Trinity (or Trimurti) too: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who have the
appellations the Creator, the Preserver, and the Destroyer (and Regenerator).
This corresponds to the Christian Trinity in which God created the heavens and
the earth, Jesus saves, and the Holy Spirit is referred to as a regenerator
(Titus 3:5). It is interesting to note, furthermore, that the Holy Spirit is
sometimes depicted as a dove, while the Hebrew language uses the same term for
both "dove" and "destroyer"!
In the Bhagavad-Gita
Gait, a story of the second person of the Hindu Trinity, (Vishnu)
who took human form as Krishna. Some have considered him a model for the
Christ, and it's hard to argue against that when he says things like, "I am the beginning, the
middle, and the end" (BG 10:20 vs. Rev 1:8).”
A
Tribute To Hinduism (source :http://www.infidels.org/library/magazines/tsr/1994/3/3hare94.html
- By Stephen Van Eck)
Looking up Rev; 1:8
it says,” I
am the Alpha and the Omega” says the Lord God,” Who is, and Who was, and who is
to come, the Almighty.”
In old Testament times,
long before Jesus was on earth, Isaiah
in 48: 12-13 is recorded as
saying,”
Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and
I am the last. My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand
spread out the heavens; when I summon them they all stand up together.
In the Bhagavad-gita in 10:19-20 it says,” The Blessed Lord said: Yes,
I will tell you of My splendorous manifestations, but only of those which are
prominent, O Arjuna, for My opulence is limitless. I am the Self, O Gudakesa,
seated in the hearts of all creatures. I am the beginning, the middle and the
end of all beings.
Buddhism:
Mahayanists developed a
theology of Buddha called the doctrine of "The Three Bodies," or Trikaya. The Buddha was not a human
being, as he was in Theravada Buddhism, but the manifestation of a universal,
spiritual Being. This Being had three bodies. When it occupied the earth in the
form of Siddhartha Gautama, it took on the Body of Magical Transformation (nirmanakaya). This Body of Magical
Transformation was an emanation of the Body of Bliss (sambhogakaya), which occupies the heavens in the form of a
ruling and governing God of the universe. There are many forms of the Body of
Bliss, but the one that rules over our world is Amithaba who lives in a
paradise in the western heavens called Sukhavati,
or "Land of Pure Bliss." Finally, the Body of Bliss is an emanation
of the Body of Essence (dharmakaya),
which is the principle underlying the whole of the universe. This Body of
Essence, the principle and rule of the universe, became synonymous with Nirvana. It was a kind of universal
soul, and Nirvana became the
transcendent joining with this universal soul.
John
introduces his Gospel with words concerning the WORD of God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were
made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and
that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the
darkness has not understood it.”
John
goes on to express, “He was in the world, and though the world
was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which
was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to
those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” John clarifies this to mean,” born of God,”
Abdul-Baha: “Our belief in regard to Christ is
exactly what is recorded in the New Testament; however, we elucidate this
matter and do not speak literally or in a manner based merely on blind belief.
For instance, it is recorded in the Gospel of St. John, in the beginning was
the word, the word was with God and the word was God. The majority of
Christians accept this matter literally, but we give a logical explanation that
no one need find occasion to reject.
The Christians have made this statement about the
word, the foundation of the trinity; but philosophers state that the trinity as
regards the identity of divinity is impossible.
We explain this subject as follows: By the word we mean that creation
with its infinite forms is like unto letters and the individual members of
humanity are likewise like unto letters. A letter individually has no meaning,
no independent significance, but the station of Christ is the station of the
word. That is why we say Christ is the word - a complete significance. The
universal bestowal of divinity is manifest in Christ. It is obvious that the
evolution of other souls is approximate, or only a part of the whole, but the
perfections of the Christ are universal, or the whole. The reality of Christ is
the collective center of all the independent virtues and infinite
significances.”
(Abdu'l-Baha,
Divine Philosophy, p. 147)
In
his letter to the Colossians Paul writes,” He (Christ) is
the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all
things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by
him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things are held
together.”
Colossians
1:1-15-17
Yet
in other documents in the Bible Jesus talks of his true reality, that we are
not to worship him but rather God who sent him. “Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes
in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he
looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a
light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. ”As for the
person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but
to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my
words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did
not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say
and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I
say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
John
12: 44-49
“The Great Commission” is often used by Christians to “prove” the
divinity of Christ. Many Christians see Jesus as fully God and yet fully man.
The disciples come to Jesus to worship him, and he tells them,” All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28: 16-20
The following scripture is pivotal to orthodox Christian belief. They see John 12: 44-49 (see above) referring to the time when Jesus was still in the flesh, while the following scripture is a direct result of the “Great Commission”.
Revelation 22: 12-13 says,” Behold, I am
coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to
what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the
Beginning and the End.”
John records Jesus
talking of his relationship to the Father (God) many times.
”Though I have been speaking
figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language
but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name.
I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself
loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I
came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and
going back to the Father.”
John 16: 25-30
Islam: Sura 4 in the Quran admonishes:
171” O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your
religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus
son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word, which He conveyed
unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and
say not "Three" - Cease! (It is) better for you! - Allah is only One
God. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son.
His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is
sufficient as Defender.”
(The Qur'an (Pickthall tr),
Sura 4 - Women)
Surah 5 in the Quran also says:
72 “They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah,
son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said: O Children of Israel, worship Allah,
my Lord and your Lord. Lo! whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, for him Allah
hath forbidden paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evil-doers there will be no
helpers.
73 They surely disbelieve who
say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no God save the One God. If
they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who
disbelieve.
74 Will they not rather turn unto Allah and seek
forgiveness of Him? For Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
(Islamic
Miscellaneous, Gail - Six Lessons on Islam, p. 18)
Abdul-Baha responds to a question concerning the
Trinity:
,”But as to the question of the Trinity, know, O advancer unto
God, that in each one of the cycles wherein the Lights have shone forth upon
the horizons (I. e., in each prophetic dispensation) and the Forgiving Lord
hath revealed Himself on Mount Paran (see Habbakkuk 3:3, etc.) or Mount Sinai,
or Mount Seir (see Ezekiel 35), there are necessarily three things: The Giver
of Grace, and the Grace, and the Recipient of the Grace; the Source of the
Effulgence, and the Effulgence, and the Recipient of the Effulgence; the
Illuminator, and the Illumination, and Illuminated. Look at the Mosaic cycle:
The Lord, and Moses, and the Fire (i.e., the burning bush), the Intermediary;
and [at] the Messianic cycle: The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost the
Intermediary; and in the Mohammedan cycle: The Lord, the Apostle (or Messenger,
Mohammed), and Gabriel (for, as the Mohammedans believe, Gabriel brought the
Revelation from God to Mohammed). Look at the sun and its rays and the heat
which results from its rays; the rays and the heat are but two effects of the
sun, but inseparable from it; yet the sun is one in its essence, unique in its
real identity, single in its attributes, neither is it possible that anything
should resemble it. Such is the essence of the Truth concerning the Unity, the
real doctrine of Singularity, the undiluted reality as to the (Divine)
Sanctity.”
(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha
v1, p. 117)
“As to the Holy Manifestations [messengers or prophets] of God, They are the focal points where the
signs, tokens and perfections of that sacred, pre-existent Reality appear in
all their splendour. They are an eternal grace, a heavenly glory, and on Them
dependeth the everlasting life of humankind. To illustrate: the Sun of Truth
dwelleth in a sky to which no soul hath any access, and which no mind can
reach, and He is far beyond the comprehension of all creatures. Yet the Holy
Manifestations of God are even as a looking-glass, burnished and without stain,
which gathereth streams of light out of that Sun, and then scattereth the glory
over the rest of creation. In that polished surface, the Sun with all its
majesty standeth clearly revealed. Thus, should the mirrored Sun proclaim, “I
am the Sun!” this is but truth; and should It cry, “I am not the Sun!” this is
the truth as well. And although the Day-Star, with all Its glory, Its beauty,
Its perfections, be clearly visible in that mirror without stain, still It hath
not come down from Its own lofty station in the realms above, It hath not made
Its way into the mirror; rather doth It continue to abide, as It will forever,
in the supernal heights of Its own holiness.
And further, all the earth’s
creatures require the bounty of the sun, for their very existence is dependent
upon solar light and heat. Should they be deprived of the sun, they would be
wiped out. This is the being with God, as referred to in the Holy Books: man
must be with his Lord.
It is clear, then, that the essential reality of God is revealed
in His perfections; and the sun, with its perfections, reflected in a mirror,
is a visible thing, an entity clearly expressing the bounty of God.
My hope is that thou wilt acquire a perceptive eye, a hearing
ear, and that the veils will be removed from thy sight.”
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the
Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 50)
The following verses end this compilation on a
positive note of the awe, wonder and majesty of God.
Here are verses from Baha’i Writings. They give us a hint of
the depth of the Covenant between God and Man.
3.” O SON OF MAN!
Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My
essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on
thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.
4. O SON OF MAN!
I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou
love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.”
(Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)
Resource sites: http://www.bahai-education.org/ocean/ http://www.islamicity.com http://www.asitis.com http://www.buddhistwisdom.com