The Doctrine of the The Doctrine of the Trinity in a Changed Trinity in a Changed Cultural SituationCultural Situation

The Changed Cultural The Changed Cultural SituationSituation

The Latin and Scholastic The Latin and Scholastic formulation of the Doctrine of formulation of the Doctrine of the Trinity has dominated the Trinity has dominated theology for many centuries - theology for many centuries - even up to the early part of the even up to the early part of the 20th century.20th century.

Changes in society and culture Changes in society and culture have taken place and these have taken place and these have affected our have affected our understanding of the Trinity:understanding of the Trinity:

Crisis of reason. Critique at a purely Crisis of reason. Critique at a purely rational approach to reality and truth. Not rational approach to reality and truth. Not just thru just thru logoslogos (understanding) but (understanding) but pathospathos (feeling) - not just thru the HEAD but also (feeling) - not just thru the HEAD but also the HEART the HEART

The new emphasis on subjectivity: valuing The new emphasis on subjectivity: valuing PERCEPTION, HUMAN PERSON PERCEPTION, HUMAN PERSON

HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS - history HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS - history as a category for understanding life & as a category for understanding life & societysociety

(The emergence of the Feminist Movement (The emergence of the Feminist Movement that questions the male domination in all that questions the male domination in all areas of life)areas of life)

Thus, the need to rethink the doctrine of Thus, the need to rethink the doctrine of the Trinity to make it more meaningful and the Trinity to make it more meaningful and acceptable to the contemporary person.acceptable to the contemporary person.

Approaches to Trinitarian Approaches to Trinitarian TheologyTheology

DoxologicalDoxological - theologians are - theologians are satisfied with what they find in the satisfied with what they find in the NT and liturgical tradition. For fear NT and liturgical tradition. For fear of speculation divorced from the of speculation divorced from the history of salvation, they refuse to go history of salvation, they refuse to go beyond what the founding texts beyond what the founding texts relate. They end in doxology, in relate. They end in doxology, in praise and liturgical celebration of praise and liturgical celebration of the three divine persons.the three divine persons.

HistoricistHistoricist - theologians confine themselves - theologians confine themselves strictly to the revelation of the trinity in history, strictly to the revelation of the trinity in history, which they see as God's process. which they see as God's process. For some theologians the one and only God For some theologians the one and only God become Trinity in the process of penetrating become Trinity in the process of penetrating into creation [process theology?]. into creation [process theology?]. So in history a process is started whereby there So in history a process is started whereby there is a trinification of the one God by reason of his is a trinification of the one God by reason of his free decision to communicate himself to free decision to communicate himself to creatures, as happens in Jesus. The Trinity creatures, as happens in Jesus. The Trinity would not be eternal, but would itself would not be eternal, but would itself demonstrate an evolving history of God. demonstrate an evolving history of God. We call this approach "historicist" because it We call this approach "historicist" because it absolutizes history to such an extent that it absolutizes history to such an extent that it projects new realities on to the very mystery of projects new realities on to the very mystery of God. It seems to break with the tradition of God. It seems to break with the tradition of faith (expressly condemned by the SCDF).faith (expressly condemned by the SCDF).

dialecticaldialectical - theologians attempt to find the - theologians attempt to find the fundamental meaning of the presence of fundamental meaning of the presence of the Trinity in history and of history in the the Trinity in history and of history in the Trinity. They are dealing with a mystery of Trinity. They are dealing with a mystery of salvation, communicated not to satisfy our salvation, communicated not to satisfy our curiosity but to make us in the image of curiosity but to make us in the image of God.God.

Common to all these tendencies is the view Common to all these tendencies is the view that reflection on the trinity always has to that reflection on the trinity always has to start from the economic trinity, that is, start from the economic trinity, that is, from the revelation of the mystery as it from the revelation of the mystery as it appears in the Christian scriptures. appears in the Christian scriptures. Revelation is made through narrative Revelation is made through narrative rather than through formal reflection.rather than through formal reflection.

God's self-revelation is of the real God, God's self-revelation is of the real God, and since God is revealed as Father, Son and since God is revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, this means that God is and Holy Spirit, this means that God is really Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We really Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We can therefore formulate the basic axiom: can therefore formulate the basic axiom: The economic Trinity is the immanent The economic Trinity is the immanent Trinity and the immanent Trinity is the Trinity and the immanent Trinity is the economic Trinity.economic Trinity. This identification This identification takes place in the incarnation and the takes place in the incarnation and the coming of the Spirit. coming of the Spirit.

Various TendenciesVarious TendenciesChristian theology working from the common Christian theology working from the common

background of the economic trinity as background of the economic trinity as starting point displays various tendencies:starting point displays various tendencies:

1.1. Continuing and enriching the classical Continuing and enriching the classical understanding of understanding of PersonPerson in light of in light of modern contributions to the notion of modern contributions to the notion of personperson..

2.2. Looking for alternatives to the concept of Looking for alternatives to the concept of PersonPerson..

3.3. A new starting point: the community and A new starting point: the community and social aspect of the Trinitysocial aspect of the Trinity

4.4. Another new starting point: the trans-Another new starting point: the trans-sexist theology of the maternal Father & sexist theology of the maternal Father & the paternal Mother.the paternal Mother.

Development in the Development in the Understanding of PersonUnderstanding of Person

The classic Latin definition of person as The classic Latin definition of person as formulated by Boethius (d. 524): formulated by Boethius (d. 524): individual individual substance of a rational naturesubstance of a rational nature. Aquinas . Aquinas defined person as defined person as subsistent relationsubsistent relation..

Since the Enlightenment Since the Enlightenment personperson has been has been understood psychologically rather than understood psychologically rather than ontologically as ontologically as an individual conscious an individual conscious subjectsubject..

The modern notion of person is basically The modern notion of person is basically that of that of being-in-relationship;being-in-relationship; a person is a a person is a subject existing as a center of autonomy, subject existing as a center of autonomy, gifted with consciousness and freedomgifted with consciousness and freedom. .

Using the modern notion of person (as center Using the modern notion of person (as center of individual consciousness and freedom) can of individual consciousness and freedom) can lead to Tritheism. To say that there are three lead to Tritheism. To say that there are three persons in one God may mean that there are persons in one God may mean that there are three centers of consciousness and three "I three centers of consciousness and three "I thinks" in God.thinks" in God.

This can be avoided by stressing the This can be avoided by stressing the relational relational aspectaspect of "person" - the complete openness of a of "person" - the complete openness of a person to another. A person is more than an person to another. A person is more than an individual: a person is relation. The individual: a person is relation. The intersubjective relationship is therefore intersubjective relationship is therefore highlighted. (I-thou-We)highlighted. (I-thou-We)

Even though the term Even though the term personperson can only be can only be applied to God analogically, applied to God analogically, personperson indicates indicates relationship, freedom, mystery, the capacity to relationship, freedom, mystery, the capacity to love and know, the capacity to be loved and love and know, the capacity to be loved and known. God is someone rather than something. known. God is someone rather than something. God's being is therefore structured as a God's being is therefore structured as a communion of persons.communion of persons.

Alternatives to the Concept Alternatives to the Concept of Personof Person

Because the use of the modern notion of Because the use of the modern notion of person person can lead to tritheism, there have been can lead to tritheism, there have been suggestions to substitute this with another suggestions to substitute this with another appropriate term. appropriate term.

Karl Barth suggested substituting it with Karl Barth suggested substituting it with modes modes of coming to be or manner of beingof coming to be or manner of being. .

Rahner proposed Rahner proposed distinct mode of subsistencedistinct mode of subsistence. . This means that there is one divine This means that there is one divine consciousness which exists in a threefold way. consciousness which exists in a threefold way.

Both phrases attempt to recapture some of the Both phrases attempt to recapture some of the original meaning of original meaning of hypostasishypostasis, especially the , especially the idea that each of the three persons are not just idea that each of the three persons are not just different persons but is a person in a different different persons but is a person in a different way. Although these recommendations are way. Although these recommendations are theologically precise, they are difficult to theologically precise, they are difficult to understand for non-specialists and is not suitable understand for non-specialists and is not suitable for preaching. for preaching.

Barth's & Rahner's position may be Barth's & Rahner's position may be misinterpreted as a modern modalism. misinterpreted as a modern modalism.

But this is not true because Rahner But this is not true because Rahner posits a correspondence between the posits a correspondence between the economic trinity & the immanent trinity economic trinity & the immanent trinity which Sabellius, the ancient proponent which Sabellius, the ancient proponent of modalism failed to do.of modalism failed to do.

Nevertheless, their alternative concepts Nevertheless, their alternative concepts were not acceptable because these were not acceptable because these were too abstract and impersonal. were too abstract and impersonal.

The Social/Communitarian The Social/Communitarian Image of the TrinityImage of the Trinity There have been early attempts to view the There have been early attempts to view the

trinity from a social/communitarian trinity from a social/communitarian perspective. Richard St. Victor employed the perspective. Richard St. Victor employed the social doctrine of God based on the biblical social doctrine of God based on the biblical affirmation that God is love. Augustine, affirmation that God is love. Augustine, searching for the searching for the vestigium trinitatisvestigium trinitatis, did the , did the same when he proposed that God is the same when he proposed that God is the highest good or supreme love. highest good or supreme love.

In recent years, theologians have tried to In recent years, theologians have tried to seek the seek the vestigium trinitatisvestigium trinitatis in the sphere of in the sphere of God's creation, namely the social image of God's creation, namely the social image of God in human community. Thus, human God in human community. Thus, human society holds a society holds a vestigium trinitatisvestigium trinitatis (traces of (traces of the trinity) since the trinity is a divine the trinity) since the trinity is a divine society. society.

Scheeben scketched out the idea of the Scheeben scketched out the idea of the Trinity as the supreme society, the model for Trinity as the supreme society, the model for any seeking participation and equality. any seeking participation and equality. Tayman and Moltmann developed Tayman and Moltmann developed Scheeben's idea further. Scheeben's idea further.

According to Tyman, society results from According to Tyman, society results from the unity of a multiciplicity of individuals and the unity of a multiciplicity of individuals and actions. The interaction among all produces actions. The interaction among all produces justice and well-being. This serves an justice and well-being. This serves an analogy with the one being of God whose analogy with the one being of God whose divine Persons act in common and on their divine Persons act in common and on their own behalf to produce eternal communion own behalf to produce eternal communion and infinite equality. The trinity serves as and infinite equality. The trinity serves as the model for an integrated society.the model for an integrated society.

Moltmann argues that being a person means Moltmann argues that being a person means being in relation. The Trinity is the divine being in relation. The Trinity is the divine community of persons in relation. He picks community of persons in relation. He picks up the classical concept of up the classical concept of perichoresisperichoresis. . The being of persons is their relationships. The being of persons is their relationships. The persons in the Trinity are so intimately The persons in the Trinity are so intimately linked with one another mutually indwell in linked with one another mutually indwell in one another. Thus, the Trinity is the divine one another. Thus, the Trinity is the divine koinoniakoinonia rather than a divine substance. rather than a divine substance.

Thus the community & social aspect of the Thus the community & social aspect of the Trinity is clearly brought out. Unity & Trinity is clearly brought out. Unity & diversity shade into communion in God, diversity shade into communion in God, springing from God's association with what springing from God's association with what is not-God but what comes through is not-God but what comes through community & perichoresis to share in the community & perichoresis to share in the mystery of the Trinity.mystery of the Trinity.

Trinity understood as a communion Trinity understood as a communion of Persons lays the foundation for a of Persons lays the foundation for a society of brothers & sisters, of society of brothers & sisters, of equals, in which dialogue & equals, in which dialogue & consensus are the basic constituents consensus are the basic constituents of living together in both world & of living together in both world & the Church.the Church.

Trans-sexist Trinitarian Trans-sexist Trinitarian TheologyTheology

The feminist movement has been The feminist movement has been instrumental in advancing the rights of instrumental in advancing the rights of women and criticizing male dominance not women and criticizing male dominance not only in society but also in religion.only in society but also in religion.

Many feminists today find difficulty in Many feminists today find difficulty in holding on to the image of God as Father holding on to the image of God as Father and Son. They think that this is inherently and Son. They think that this is inherently sexist and patriarchal. This promotes a sexist and patriarchal. This promotes a social world based on hierarchy and the social world based on hierarchy and the inequality between men and women. They inequality between men and women. They regard the personification of God as Father regard the personification of God as Father as the foremost symbol of patriarchy.as the foremost symbol of patriarchy.

Thus, some feminist theologians have Thus, some feminist theologians have attempted to banish any reference to God attempted to banish any reference to God as Father from the liturgy and theology. as Father from the liturgy and theology.

There are also attempts to substitute the There are also attempts to substitute the trinitarian language of Father-Son-Holy trinitarian language of Father-Son-Holy Spirit with Creator-Redeemer-Sanctifier. Spirit with Creator-Redeemer-Sanctifier.

However, this may not be advantageous However, this may not be advantageous as it appears. According to Scriptures, as it appears. According to Scriptures, God creates through the Son (Col 1:16, God creates through the Son (Col 1:16, Heb 11:3, Jn 1:1-3) and by the Spirit; God Heb 11:3, Jn 1:1-3) and by the Spirit; God redeems through Christ. redeems through Christ.

It is impossible to banish reference to God It is impossible to banish reference to God as Father since this term is part of the as Father since this term is part of the data of revelation, faith and tradition. In data of revelation, faith and tradition. In the NT Jesus addressed God as Abba. the NT Jesus addressed God as Abba. Throughout the centuries God has often Throughout the centuries God has often been addressed as Father in the liturgy been addressed as Father in the liturgy and this forms part of our creed. and this forms part of our creed.

However, this does not mean that God is However, this does not mean that God is male. On the level of strict theological male. On the level of strict theological understanding, God the Father is trans-understanding, God the Father is trans-sexual, the term Father referring only to sexual, the term Father referring only to the source of life from which everything the source of life from which everything derives and to which everything tends. derives and to which everything tends.

What theologians can insist is that the use of What theologians can insist is that the use of Father and Son in the Trinity is trans-sexist. Father and Son in the Trinity is trans-sexist. It does not define God's gender (male). It is a It does not define God's gender (male). It is a metaphor. metaphor.

Mary Daly suggest that we should Mary Daly suggest that we should understand God less as a substance and understand God less as a substance and more as a process. God would mean living, more as a process. God would mean living, the eternal return including the coming the eternal return including the coming into being of the whole of creation, a into being of the whole of creation, a creation that, instead of being subject to creation that, instead of being subject to the supreme Being, would share the divine the supreme Being, would share the divine living. This God could be expressed by the living. This God could be expressed by the symbols of either Father or Mother, or by a symbols of either Father or Mother, or by a combination of the properties of both: God combination of the properties of both: God as maternal Father and paternal mother. as maternal Father and paternal mother.

Christian tradition has hinted at such Christian tradition has hinted at such formulations:formulations:

The Council of Toledo (657) spoke of "The The Council of Toledo (657) spoke of "The Father’s womb" in which the Son is conceived Father’s womb" in which the Son is conceived and from which he is born. and from which he is born.

The same should apply to the Son. who The same should apply to the Son. who should not be understood in sexist terms, but should not be understood in sexist terms, but inclusively as the final and full revelation of inclusively as the final and full revelation of the original source; this can be both the original source; this can be both masculine and feminine. masculine and feminine.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit can be In the same way, the Holy Spirit can be expressed in trans-sexist language. In expressed in trans-sexist language. In biblical description it is allied to the feminine biblical description it is allied to the feminine dimensions of life (dimensions of life (RuahRuah is feminine in is feminine in Hebrew): creation, animation, consolation, Hebrew): creation, animation, consolation, comforting.comforting.

It must be stressed that this is not It must be stressed that this is not just a matter of introducing feminine just a matter of introducing feminine figuration into the trinity (Mother figuration into the trinity (Mother instead of Father, Daughter instead of instead of Father, Daughter instead of Son) but of working out the feminine Son) but of working out the feminine dimension of the whole mystery of the dimension of the whole mystery of the Trinity and of each of the divine Trinity and of each of the divine Persons.Persons.

God seen as communion and co-God seen as communion and co-existence can be both masculine and existence can be both masculine and feminine.feminine.

In sum trinitarian theology need not be In sum trinitarian theology need not be looked upon as inherently sexist and looked upon as inherently sexist and patriarchal. Indeed trinitarian doctrine patriarchal. Indeed trinitarian doctrine articulates a vision of God in which there is articulates a vision of God in which there is neither hierarchy and inequality, only neither hierarchy and inequality, only relationships based on love, mutuality, self-relationships based on love, mutuality, self-giving and self-receiving, freedom and giving and self-receiving, freedom and communion. These values are the leitmotif communion. These values are the leitmotif of theological feminism. The God who of theological feminism. The God who exists as an eternal communion of love is a exists as an eternal communion of love is a surer foundation for authentic koinonia of surer foundation for authentic koinonia of the body of Christ in which there is neither the body of Christ in which there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave or free, male or Jew nor Gentile, slave or free, male or female.female.

Next Friday (February 13)Next Friday (February 13)Missiology Conference:Missiology Conference:

MIC Cursillo Retreat HouseMIC Cursillo Retreat House8:00 -11:308:00 -11:30

Feb. 20: Creative Group Feb. 20: Creative Group ReportinReportin

The Trinity: Perichoretic The Trinity: Perichoretic Communion of the Three Communion of the Three

Divine Persons Divine Persons Boff, Boff, Trinity & Society,Trinity & Society,

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