On trinities and self-knowledge

[Protoman2050]

If Go was unity, wouldn't He not be able to know Himself? I've heard this argument many times in service o defending the Trinity, but can you explain this further?

[Didymos Thomas]

Theologically, I tend to be opposed to trinitarianism, though I do find trinitarianism useful as personal meditation. Can't say that I understand this argument. Is there a particular source you have in mind?

[Protoman2050]

Originally Posted by Didymos Thomas

Theologically, I tend to be opposed to trinitarianism, though I do find trinitarianism useful as personal meditation. Can't say that I understand this argument. Is there a particular source you have in mind?

I've heard it all over the place.

[Didymos Thomas]

Maybe, then, you could give a classic example of the argument, or elaborate on the argument.

[Protoman2050]

Originally Posted by Didymos Thomas

Maybe, then, you could give a classic example of the argument, or elaborate on the argument.

If God were unity, then He'd be both the knower and the known. All knowledge requires the knower and the known to be seperate entities in some form or another. Therefore, God must be a multiplicity of persons.

[Didymos Thomas]

If God were unity, then He'd be both the knower and the known. All knowledge requires the knower and the known to be seperate entities in some form or another. Therefore, God must be a multiplicity of persons.

Why are we thinking of God in the terms of being a person in the first place?

[Protoman2050]

Originally Posted by Didymos Thomas

Why are we thinking of God in the terms of being a person in the first place?

Because only personal entities can love, suffer, etc.

[Zetetic11235]

It seems more likely to me because we can't conceptualize what is beyond us so we draw an analogy as best we can/

[Didymos Thomas]

Because only personal entities can love, suffer, etc.

Does God really love, suffer, ect like humans do, or do we use this sort of language figuratively. Seems mighty dangerous to think of God a we think of a human being.

[iconoclast]

Does God really love, suffer, ect like humans do, or do we use this sort of language figuratively. Seems mighty dangerous to think of God a we think of a human being.

No, not in the way you do. Omiscience doesn't allow me to emphasize someone's good qualities in a romantic way without also seeing all the bad things about them - or indeed, seeing them as one of billions of others very much like them. I love humankind and will suffer for you if you fail to survive.