Christians claim that the single God exists as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We claim that this belief is false, because several absurdities follow from it. In this article, we will demonstrate one such
Christians claim that the single God exists as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We claim that this belief is false, because several absurdities follow from it. In this article, we will demonstrate one such absurdity. We argue:
- If the persons of the Trinity exist, then they would be either qualities, or beings.
- The persons of the Trinity are neither qualities nor beings.
- Therefore, the persons of the Trinity do not exist.
Premise 1: If the persons of the Trinity exist, then they would be either qualities, or beings
This premise is true, because existent essences either:
- Exist while subsisting within some other essence.
- Exist while not subsisting within some other essence.
The first option is the negation of the second, so they cannot be both false. And the first case describes a quality, whereas the second case describes a being. As such, it is impossible for that which exists, to be neither a quality nor a being.
Given the above, and since the Christian claims that the persons of the Trinity exist, this means that the persons of the Trinity would have to be either qualities or beings.
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