Mormon Rejection of the Trinity vs. Classical Christian Belief in the Trinity
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Posted by Jenny Evans Sep 15, 2009 |
It seems to me that some folks get bent out of shape about Mormons not believing in the trinity, when really the difference between trinitarian and non-trinitarian Christians is not so wide.
According to the orthodox definition of the trinity as developed by Athanasius, the concept of the trinity comprises three points:
- The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct individuals;
- They are one in purpose; and
- They are one in substance.
Mormons, who reject the trinity, completely agree with the first two points. LDS theology on the Godhead says that:
- The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct individuals;
- They are one in purpose; and
- They are three separate persons or entities.
The only real difference here between Mormon and mainstream Christian theology is whether the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three entities or one. It seems to me that the difference should hardly bother a Trinitarian Christian, when it's impossible to really explain what makes three unembodied substances "one," anyway.
This isn't to say that the point is moot; on the contrary, the fact that the Father and Son are separate, embodied individuals is a key part of Mormon theology. I just want to point out that when it comes to beliefs about the nature of God, Mormons and non-Mormons actually have more in common than they have to disagree about.