# The holy trinity (Not religious) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2023, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479 "2023-05-02T21:11:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/61 "2023-05-03T21:54:38Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I don’t really think religion is as much about God as many of us believe, it seems to be more about " Self" . We are made in the image and likeness of god. If god has three persons then so do we. Which, is, in and of itself, a religious concept. Maybe you don’t adhere to a specific religion, but you are, by that statement not even agnostic, but a deist. –deletes long screed about if we’re created in God’s image, God isn’t very impressive as off topic– In any case, back to the OP, then then -If- we are created in God’s image, you seem to indicate that, contrary to the OP, you are in fact religious, and likely a subset of the Christian faith. Because you are now saying we were directly created by God (not common to all religions), in that God’s image (explicitly Judeo-Christian to the extent that phrase means anything), and that God -may- have three facets requiring us to do so. Which means you’ve experienced epic thread drift! May want to ask a mod to update the title because it’s no longer accurate. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/62 "2023-05-03T21:57:53Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > In any case, back to the OP, then then -If- we are created in God’s image, you seem to indicate that, contrary to the OP, you are in fact religious, and likely a subset of the Christian faith. Because you are now saying we were directly created by God (not common to all religions), in that God’s image (explicitly Judeo-Christian to the extent that phrase means anything), and that God -may- have three facets requiring us to do so. > > Which means you’ve experienced epic thread drift! > > May want to ask a mod to update the title because it’s no longer accurate. I wasn’t saying that as if I believed it, I was saying it as the bible says it. The bible says we are made in the image and likeness of God. So if the bible says that, it is also saying we have 3 different persons in us. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/63 "2023-05-03T21:59:48Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > The bible says we are made in the image and likeness of God. So if the bible says that, it is also saying we have 3 different persons in us. Umm, why stop there? Are we therefore also all the “omnis”? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/64 "2023-05-03T22:01:07Z")
Here is another thought, so if a Christian accepted this premise of the trinity and he accepted the premise that we are built in the image and likeness of God would it be a useful connection to make to accept that we are 3 persons in one. I do believe that as a person I have the capacity to be more than just one person, I know people who have taken this to an extreme, they are a cow boy, a gambler, a poet, a prophet, just depending on their mood. It seems to be a common trait of narcissists. Taking the view that w just one seems the sanest but is it the most useful? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/65 "2023-05-03T22:16:20Z")
You’re just describing the very common human trait of having many different roles and personalities in life, and there are always more than three identities, so the trinity metaphor makes no sense. Of course everybody can identify as a son or daughter, a lover, a husband or wife, an expert for (insert profession here), a fan of (insert actor, band or sports team etc. here). Life would be poor if we couldn’t, but I don’t know how this has anything to do with the Christian dogma of the trinity. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/66 "2023-05-03T22:24:28Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > ou’re just describing the very common human trait of having many different roles and personalities in life, and there are always more than three identities, so the trinity metaphor makes no sense. Of course everybody can identify as a son or daughter, a lover, a husband or wife, an expert of (insert profession here), a fan of (insert actor, band or sports team etc. here). Life would be poor if we couldn’t, but I don’t know how this has anything to do with the Christian dogma of trinity. I think the trinity refers to 3 primary identities that stay with us throughout our lives and could be viewed as essentials during that time period. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/67 "2023-05-03T22:26:04Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I think the trinity refers to 3 primary identities that stay with us throughout our lives and could be viewed as essentials during that time period. I never was a father (or a holy ghost, for that matter) in my life. Am I missing out for something? Because I don’t feel so and there’s nothing missing in my life. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/68 "2023-05-03T22:53:31Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I wasn’t saying that as if I believed it, I was saying it as the bible says it. The bible says we are made in the image and likeness of God. So if the bible says that, it is also saying we have 3 different persons in us. -sigh- I’ll try one more time, then bow out, because this keeps going in circles. You’re picking -a- religious text, -a- specific argument regarding the trinity (which is almost always just a Catholic issue), and requesting a discussion on that specific. And then asking to argue on how the spirituality applies (among other things, granted). That is a religious discussion. And it’s specifically a Christian, almost certainly Catholic discussion. I’ve mentioned other religious POV, but you keep sticking to a specific sect, and I think saying it’s not religious when it’s already absurdly specific is inaccurate. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/69 "2023-05-04T00:25:18Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > That is a religious discussion. And it’s specifically a Christian, almost certainly Catholic discussion. I’ve mentioned other religious POV, but you keep sticking to a specific sect, and I think saying it’s not religious when it’s already absurdly specific is inaccurat I am not doing a very good job of framing this. It is absolutely non religious. The existence or non existence of God is irrelevant. I am making one assumption in that there is probably some value to this particular philosophy and it would most likely be in the formation of one’s sense of self. I am postulating that some old philosophers saw some great value in instilling a sense of 3 distinct individuals within one person. all made in the image and likeness of God. This would basically become their operating system. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/70 "2023-05-04T00:39:52Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I am postulating that some old philosophers saw some great value in instilling a sense of 3 distinct individuals within one person. And has already point out to you, the Bible was _not_ created and/or assembled and/or written by “some old philosophers”, period. From what evidence do you postulate this, in the face of all the evidence that says otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/71 "2023-05-04T01:07:04Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > You don’t have to be an atheist to see that, it’s obvious from **any** non-Christian POV You don’t have to be an atheist to love Levy’s rye bread, but it helps. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/72 "2023-05-04T01:32:56Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > When I saw “not religious” in the title, I clicked in prepared to discuss onions, celery, ,green peppers and variations thereof as the foundation of a recipe. > > Never mind. Carry on. Holy cow (er, secular cow). That’s exactly what I was thinking. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/73 "2023-05-04T01:40:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And has already point out to you, the Bible was _not_ created and/or assembled and/or written by “some old philosophers”, period. From what evidence do you postulate this, in the face of all the evidence that says otherwise? Maybe they created God in the image and likeness of an idealized man. Philosopher or not, someone felt it was very important to build 3 persons into one. What was that person thinking when he did that? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/74 "2023-05-04T01:48:41Z")
_There_ _Was_ _NO_ _"That_ _Person"._ ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/75 "2023-05-04T01:55:43Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > What was that person thinking when he did that? What was the person thinking when he came up with the idea of a monotheistic God? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/76 "2023-05-04T03:34:40Z")
The concept of the trinity is an attempt for theologians to fit multiple gods into the “One True God” mold without angering any of them. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/77 "2023-05-04T11:57:52Z")
Not if you’re talking about the Christian concept of the Trinity. Christianity grew out of Judaism, which was monotheistic. Jesus was considered to be God/divine, but he was never considered to be “_a_ god,” one among multiple gods. As the Wikipedia page that was linked to in this thread’s first reply says, " The doctrine of the Trinity was first formulated among the [early Christians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christian) and [fathers of the Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathers_of_the_Church) as they attempted to understand the [relationship between Jesus and God](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christology) in their scriptural documents and prior traditions." ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/78 "2023-05-04T16:16:37Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > When I saw “not religious” in the title, I clicked in prepared to discuss onions, celery, ,green peppers and variations thereof as the foundation of a recipe. Glad I’m not the only one! ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/79 "2023-05-04T16:36:43Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > A person of that faith can see it as that, but have to also deal with the belief based issues that the metaphor ISN’T the point, it’s secondary to the unknowable nature of God. It’s poor form to assert what other people believe, especially a broad category like Christians. And doubly-especially about the Trinity, which is the probably the single most disagreed-upon article of faith among Christians. For example, rewording thusly would be better, while still making your point (which I otherwise agree with): > A person of that faith can see it as that, but might also deal with the belief-based issues that the metaphor ISN’T the point, it’s secondary to the unknowable nature of God. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479/80 "2023-05-04T16:51:54Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > I am sooooo struggling to understand exactly how this thread is “(Not religious)”. I was just thinking. 🤣 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-trinity-not-religious/983479.md?page=5)