Biblical Answer

Understanding the Trinity: Implications of Non-Dualism

The concept of non-dualism, which suggests that God and the world are not separate entities, has significant implications for the doctrine of the Trinity. A non-dualistic understanding of God can unintentionally lead to tritheistic views of the Trinity, where the distinct personhood of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are emphasized, but the unity of God as one undivided being is neglected. This is because non-dualism can blur the lines between God and the world, making it difficult to maintain the absolute distinction between divine essence and the world.

In a non-dualistic understanding of the Trinity, the persons of the Trinity may be seen as having different primary functions in relating to the world. For instance, the Father may be seen as the creator, the Son as the redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as the sustainer. While this perspective highlights the distinct roles of each person, it can also lead to a separation of God's functions, undermining the unity of the Trinity. A non-dualistic understanding of the Trinity can also lead to a loss of the mystery and complexity of God's nature, as it seeks to make God's relationship with the world more understandable and formulaic.

The doctrine of the Trinity, on the other hand, affords a perfect protection against non-dualistic views of God, which can lead to pantheism or other denials of the absolute being of God. The Trinity establishes an eternal relationship of coexistence, cooperation, and coequality among the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which is a great-making property that sets God apart from the world. This understanding of the Trinity highlights the complexity and mystery of God's nature, while maintaining the absolute distinction between divine essence and the world. In contrast to a non-dualistic understanding of the Trinity, the doctrine of the Trinity preserves the unity and diversity of God, and provides a perfect paradigm for human relationships.