10-01-2008, 11:24 PM
One last thing I'd like to say is that when I confess that God is three persons of one essence, I do not presume to understand what this means or how this is possible.
This is how "person" is commonly understood in reference to the Trinity:
a self-conscious or rational being
Yet this is another, equally valid definition of "person":
A character or role, as in a play; a guise: "Well, in her person, I say I will not have you" (Shakespeare).
Therefore, ultimately, I believe that Andrew and I are both right, as we are both attempting to understand that which is beyond human words. I'm sorry if I've ever given a different impression. I've read Andrew's explanations on his website, and I consider them logically and theologically sound. If, as a miaphysite, I can accept dyophysitism as a valid Christological formula, I can also accept Andrew's understanding of the Godhead.
The diversity within the Trinity implies diversity within the Church, including diverse understandings of the Trinity. It was imperial domination of the Church that insisted all Christians must think and believe the same, and look at the suffering and division this has caused.
This is how "person" is commonly understood in reference to the Trinity:
a self-conscious or rational being
Yet this is another, equally valid definition of "person":
A character or role, as in a play; a guise: "Well, in her person, I say I will not have you" (Shakespeare).
Therefore, ultimately, I believe that Andrew and I are both right, as we are both attempting to understand that which is beyond human words. I'm sorry if I've ever given a different impression. I've read Andrew's explanations on his website, and I consider them logically and theologically sound. If, as a miaphysite, I can accept dyophysitism as a valid Christological formula, I can also accept Andrew's understanding of the Godhead.
The diversity within the Trinity implies diversity within the Church, including diverse understandings of the Trinity. It was imperial domination of the Church that insisted all Christians must think and believe the same, and look at the suffering and division this has caused.