Hello Brad!
BradtheImpaler wrote:I think the "whole picture" here involves you bringing up specific verses and then, when it is shown the verse does not say what you need it to say, you appeal to generalities.
How can 1Cor.8:6 be merely a "piece of a puzzle" regarding this issue? Paul distinctly tells us there is only one God (which you claim to believe) Is that just a piece of the puzzle? No? Then WHO does he tell us the "one God" is here?
Does the thought ever occur to you that when Paul refers to God as being one that he is speaking from your viewpoint or ours? When Paul speaks of One God, does He specifically state the God is One in Number or in Unity?
BradtheImpaler wrote:You attempt to draw the whole discussion into such a vague and subjective realm that no one can prove ANYTHING. Your tactic here should be obvious to everyone.
What Tactic? Pointing to one verse is a poor tactic on your behalf, obviously! I can break it down with Scriptures that can both Prove the Deity of Christ and His distinction from the Father
BradtheImpaler wrote:The insinuation that if I somehow attain to the level of spirituality llike yourself, I will somehow understand that the scriptures teach that God is one yet 3/ 3 yet one, and that there is no contradiction therein? Too late - I USED to believe that, UNTIL I prayed more and studied more.
BTW - I'm doing my best not to try and evaluate you personally in this discussion, but it's getting increasingly hard not to believe that you are obsessed with a delusion of being some sort of "spiritual master", or whatever the Christian equivalent is. Your opinion of yourself reeks of arrogance, and, in case you don't realize it, that's the OPPOSITE of "spirituality".
First of all I never claimed to be a spiritual master, your vain attempts at personifying me are both judgmental and rash. Before you call me arrogant, take a look at your responses and how you express superiority in knowledge such as duh! Because I explained how one develops a better understanding of the Godhead makes me arrogant? Furthermore your not much of a welcomer as far as I have seen in your responses. So much for affability! I believe that taking one verse and disregarding the rest is considered arrogant.
BradtheImpaler wrote:Ha! Now you would have us believe that you have arrived at this great revelation BY YOURSELF? Nonsense - you got it from Trinitarian authors/speakers... you read a book and heard some sermons. Nothing you have offered here is a revelation of yours, I've heard it ALL before.
Geez, when did I proclaim that it was a self-revelation? Quit putting your condescending words in my mouth brad! I got it from trinitarian authors and sermons? I read an research commentary, and I do not draw conclusion based on that alone. I read and study scriptures in conjunction with bible schooling. I have heard all your arguments before also my friend!
BradtheImpaler wrote:It is easy to discern between tha God of Islam and the God of (Trinitarian) Christianity - one is monotheistic theology and one isn't. Allah, to the Moslems, is ONE person - the Trinity is 3 persons. "Mono" means one, "Poly" means MORE than one. Which qualifies as which?
Your point about pagan gods not really existing is irrelevant to the point. The Trinity is polytheistic in CONCEPT, (whether it is true or not) as the belief in the gods of Mt. Olympus is polytheism, in concept.
Here's why...
They are both comprised of MULTIPLE DIVINE PERSONS.
UNCREATED, all other pagan and made up gods ARE NOT!!!
God Bless!