3.1    The Trinity

 

The first fundamental Doctrine of Christianity is belief in what is called The Dogma of the “Holy Trinity”. Nearly all the Pauline Churches in Christendom do believe in this doctrine. After all it has been the central teachings of their Churches for centuries.[1] 

The Roman Catholic Church states that: 

“The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion…”[2] 

The Greek Orthodox Church calls the Trinity: 

“The fundamental doctrine of Christianity…”[3] 

Why should a subject like this be of any more than passing interest to Muslims? Well, as noted in the Christian book “Catholicism”: 

“Unless people keep this faith whole and defiled, without doubt (they) shall perish everlastingly.”[4] 

Henry Bettenson in “The Documents of the Christian Church” (Ath De Synodis, 23 – P.G. XXV1. 721) writes: 

“If anyone says that the Son (Jesus Christ) is a creature as one of the creatures, or an offspring ...let him be anathema.”[5] 

These are good reasons, then, on why we want to know the truth about the doctrine of the Trinity. Jesus himself said: “Eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) 

So our entire future hinges on our knowing the true nature of Allah, God Almighty and that means getting to the root of the Trinity controversy. If this doctrine is true, it is degrading to Jesus to say that he was just a Prophet or a good teacher that never was equal to Allah or as part of Allah The God Almighty. But if the Trinity is false, it is degrading to Allah to call Jesus or anyone his equal, and even worse to call his mother Mary, “the Mother of Allah”.[6] (Nauzubillah Min Zalik -- God forbids)

 

Before examining the Trinity claim of truthfulness, it would be helpful to know its origin and to define this doctrine more specifically. What is exactly is the Trinity? How do Christians explain it?

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[1]           This views represents the believe of the majority of Christians – see Encyclopaedia Britannica, article entitled Trinity, Vol 22, 487

[2]           Should You Believe In the Trinity? (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of New York), 1989, 3

[3]           Should You Believe In the Trinity? 3

[4]           Should You Believe In the Trinity? 3

[5]           The Documents of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press), 1979, 42, in Muhammad Abu Layla, 367

[6]           The Mothership of Mary was first raised at the third Council of the Church at Ephesus in 431 C.E where it was proposed that she be posthumously accorded the status of “The Mother of God”. The idea was fiercely resisted by Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople and his followers, for they only saw Jesus and Mary as mortals. In records of that Council, Nestorius candidly stated: “Let no one call Mary the mother of God…for Mary was but human.” (The Bible Fraud: An Untold Story of Jesus Christ, 193)