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===The Existential Trinity===

===The Existential Trinity===

'''What is a trinity?'''

====What is a trinity?====

A trinity is something new in our study. It is deity, but it is not personality. We know that the Paradise Trinity is the Deity union of Father, Son, and Spirit. We probably think of this Trinity rather loosely, more or less like three persons working together but it is not three persons at all. The Trinity is something real, in and of itself, something that exists separate and apart from the three persons.

A trinity is something new in our study. It is deity, but it is not personality. We know that the Paradise Trinity is the Deity union of Father, Son, and Spirit. We probably think of this Trinity rather loosely, more or less like three persons working together but it is not three persons at all. The Trinity is something real, in and of itself, something that exists separate and apart from the three persons.

(Here again, we should remember that while the Deities are continuously sitting as directors in the trinity union, at the same time they are apart from the Trinity and working as persons, either individually or together. They do not go from one activity to another; they do all these things at the same time, and they do them all of the time. Absolute Deity, even Ultimate Deity, is not limited by either time or space.)

(Here again, we should remember that while the Deities are continuously sitting as directors in the trinity union, at the same time they are apart from the Trinity and working as persons, either individually or together. They do not go from one activity to another; they do all these things at the same time, and they do them all of the time. Absolute Deity, even Ultimate Deity, is not limited by either time or space.)

'''A comparison of functions'''

====A comparison of functions====

We can see the difference between personal deity and trinity most clearly if we stop to consider the personal attitudes of the Deities in contrast to their collective function in the Trinity: the Father has a personal attitude of love for his creatures; the Son is the source of mercy, and mercy is love applied; the Spirit is the fountainhead of ministry, and ministry is mercy in action. In contrast to all of this, one of the important functions of the Paradise Trinity is justice administration; this is the collective and impersonal attitude of the Deities. justice administration is something very different from the personal attitudes of love, mercy, and ministry. (See Appendix X, § 2. The Nature of Trinity.)

We can see the difference between personal deity and trinity most clearly if we stop to consider the personal attitudes of the Deities in contrast to their collective function in the Trinity: the Father has a personal attitude of love for his creatures; the Son is the source of mercy, and mercy is love applied; the Spirit is the fountainhead of ministry, and ministry is mercy in action. In contrast to all of this, one of the important functions of the Paradise Trinity is justice administration; this is the collective and impersonal attitude of the Deities. justice administration is something very different from the personal attitudes of love, mercy, and ministry. (See Appendix X, § 2. The Nature of Trinity.)

'''Why is a trinity?'''

====Why is a trinity?====

Why not have just three persons of Deity who can work with each other, or not, as they choose? In other words, why not have just a partnership? Why bother with a corporation? Why have a trinity?

Why not have just three persons of Deity who can work with each other, or not, as they choose? In other words, why not have just a partnership? Why bother with a corporation? Why have a trinity?

It appears likely that Deity is so indivisible it could never be divided, and actually never was at any point in time or eternity. We are about to consider a series of happenings that have been grouped together under the heading, "God's escape from Infinity." We would suggest that all of these happenings are events that took place at the same "time." In other words, God could separate himself from Total Deity (the Deity Absolute) only by replacing his undivided (pre-Father) Deity presence with the undivided Deity presence of the Paradise Trinity. As he is removing his (pre-Father) Deity presence, he is replacing it with the Trinity presence. while he is doing this, he is also becoming the Father of the Son; and with the Son, the and Spirit he is uniting in the Paradise Trinity. (See Appendix VIII, §2. Trinitizing Techniques, especially the discussion of "The Original Trinitization.")

It appears likely that Deity is so indivisible it could never be divided, and actually never was at any point in time or eternity. We are about to consider a series of happenings that have been grouped together under the heading, "God's escape from Infinity." We would suggest that all of these happenings are events that took place at the same "time." In other words, God could separate himself from Total Deity (the Deity Absolute) only by replacing his undivided (pre-Father) Deity presence with the undivided Deity presence of the Paradise Trinity. As he is removing his (pre-Father) Deity presence, he is replacing it with the Trinity presence. while he is doing this, he is also becoming the Father of the Son; and with the Son, the and Spirit he is uniting in the Paradise Trinity. (See Appendix VIII, §2. Trinitizing Techniques, especially the discussion of "The Original Trinitization.")

'''God's escape from infinity'''

====God's escape from infinity====

Let us go back in our study, back near the beginning, back to where God is separating (qualifying) Deity from not-Deity (the unqualified). In doing this he is escaping from a situation in which he fills Total Reality -- Infinity. We started with a picture of one circle, squeezed it into an hour-glass, then separated the two lobes to form two circles, one of which had a dot in it. This circle with the dot is our symbol for Deity, and the dot is the symbol for God's will. At this point in the study God actually fills all of this second circle; he fills Total Deity - he is Total Deity. He has escaped from filling Total Reality, but he is still spread over all Total Deity. Now, when God separates himself from the SON and they produce the Spirit, then:

Let us go back in our study, back near the beginning, back to where God is separating (qualifying) Deity from not-Deity (the unqualified). In doing this he is escaping from a situation in which he fills Total Reality -- Infinity. We started with a picture of one circle, squeezed it into an hour-glass, then separated the two lobes to form two circles, one of which had a dot in it. This circle with the dot is our symbol for Deity, and the dot is the symbol for God's will. At this point in the study God actually fills all of this second circle; he fills Total Deity - he is Total Deity. He has escaped from filling Total Reality, but he is still spread over all Total Deity. Now, when God separates himself from the SON and they produce the Spirit, then:

(For a more detailed analysis of trinity, and references to the Papers, see Appendix X, § 2. The Nature of Trinity; and Appendix X, § 6. The Gestalt of a Trinity.)

(For a more detailed analysis of trinity, and references to the Papers, see Appendix X, § 2. The Nature of Trinity; and Appendix X, § 6. The Gestalt of a Trinity.)

'''The Paradise Trinity as the Eternal Thesis'''

====The Paradise Trinity as the Eternal Thesis====

When we view the Trinity in conjunction with perfect Havona we are looking at the existential thesis of perfection. Havona is an expression of Paradise-potential in actuality. The Trinity and the personal Deities of Paradise are the source of the divine ideal of perfection that is the final goal of all evolutionary growth on all subabsolute levels - finite or absonite. Here again, we encounter some terms that should re-defined:

When we view the Trinity in conjunction with perfect Havona we are looking at the existential thesis of perfection. Havona is an expression of Paradise-potential in actuality. The Trinity and the personal Deities of Paradise are the source of the divine ideal of perfection that is the final goal of all evolutionary growth on all subabsolute levels - finite or absonite. Here again, we encounter some terms that should re-defined: