In the Catholic church it is believed that God and Jesus are the same person? But I often hear them referred to as God the Father and Jesus the Son which would imply seperate identifications. I heard a Vatican Cardinal refer to Jesus as our elder brother and God referred to as our father. I understand that they are one in purpose, but all references I have heard from the Catholic church have implied that they are seperate in being.

Can someone clarify?

H2O can come in many forms- God can too... ice, steam and water- they are all the same H2O but in different forms. God is the father, Jesus is the Son but is also God incarnate, and the Holy Spirit is the way God lives within us and works within us. Does that help at all? Jesus was man and God, and is therefore our brother.

One God, 3 forms

Its like this.
God would be like water... you feel it run thru your hands
Jesus would be like ice ... water but in solid form. Its the same thing, just a different form of it.
And the holy spirit is like a mist... water in yet another form.

hard to grasp, but thats the way I've been taught

lol. we must've posted at the same time!!

Those explainations do make sense, but who was Jesus calling out to in the Garden? He speaks out to God his Father.
this is why I get confused.

My husband has tried to explain the trinity to me as being like an egg-shell/yolk/white being all different parts of the egg, but still making an Egg when all together. I like the water explaination better ;)

Those explainations do make sense, but who was Jesus calling out to in the Garden? He speaks out to God his Father.
this is why I get confused.
I was thinking of the same thing. This confuses me too! :)

Because God is so incomprehensible in His entirety to the human mind, you may never know - at least while you are on earth! (That's one reason it's believed He sent Jesus, so that we could better relate to Him. )

Maybe its the wording that makes it confusing to me. If he is one God 3 forms, but he SENT Jesus, then he didnt actually send Jesus, he just changed into him? I mean yes, water can have 3 forms, but one glass of water cannot be in all 3 forms at the same time. Portions of it could, yes, but then you are breaking it up into 3 seperate sections.

Maybe its the wording that makes it confusing to me. If he is one God 3 forms, but he SENT Jesus, then he didnt actually send Jesus, he just changed into him? I mean yes, water can have 3 forms, but one glass of water cannot be in all 3 forms at the same time. Portions of it could, yes, but then you are breaking it up into 3 seperate sections.
Good way of putting it! :) I was raised Catholic and I never understood this myself. Everytime I take the beliefnet quiz I come up LDS for that reason. :)

Keep in mind that the concept of the Trinity is called a Mystery: it's a truth that isn't necessarily supposed to be understood intellectually, but accepted spiritually.

I've always felt that God "poured" part of himself into the body of Christ (going with the water analogy).
So Jesus IS God.
But is also separate from God. He lived His life on earth as a human, therefore he viewed God as The Father, just as we do

Good way of putting it! :) I was raised Catholic and I never understood this myself. Everytime I take the beliefnet quiz I come up LDS for that reason. :)

I was raised Catholic as well and am now LDS, but have never had closure on this one issue.

so I have a question... how did Mary give birth to Jesus, if He was God?

I'm genuinely curious... I mean, if God is the literal father of Jesus, then you're saying He's father to Himself?

(see why I like the LDS belief of them being separate people? It's easier to wrap my mind aroudn ;))

so I have a question... how did Mary give birth to Jesus, if He was God?

I'm genuinely curious... I mean, if God is the literal father of Jesus, then you're saying He's father to Himself?

(see why I like the LDS belief of them being separate people? It's easier to wrap my mind aroudn ;))

God came to earth in human form so that we could relate to him that is why mary gave birth to Jesus, and yes he is father to himself lol I know it is very hard to wrap your mind around that is why we have faith, because we can not understand and we just trust in God that it is all true.

That's right - Jesus was all God and all man. Another mystery left to faith! I think Jesus is referred to as the son because He was always the example for the rest of us, also sons and daughters of God the Father. I mean, it would have been confusing(More confusing!) to call them both just God!

Then why did he pray to himself? This always confuses me! :)

I was raised Catholic as well and am now LDS, but have never had closure on this one issue.

And, I'm the reverse and really do not grasp the concept of the trinity, but I chalk it up to one of those things that - really - for me doesn't matter as much as how I conceptualize all three and for me it is much easier to see them as - LDS view - three distinct personages. I still go to Catholic church.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm
I found this and am currently in the middle of reading it. Its pretty long and has yet to clarify my original question, but is a very interesting read and I thought I would share.

And I apologize in advance if this is not a reputable source, but it says its the Catholic Encyclopedia and I would assume that it's probably pretty accurate. Please feel free to inform me if it is not. There is nothing I hate more than links to anti sites, though so far this doesnt seem like one.

I'll stick with thinking it's LESS confusing to think of them as 3 different individuals. ;)

Another question: the baptism of Jesus, how was it possible for Him to be the voice, the dove and in the water getting baptized?

Also, I read in Acts, I think recently about Paul, I think, (I'll check my source) seeing Jesus standing on the right hand of God... doesn't that sound like two individuals?

Educate me!

From the troparia sung at Theophany (baptism of Christ) service at my curch:

When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan,
The worship of the Trinity was made manifest.
For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee
And called Thee His beloved Son.
And the Spirit in the form of a dove
Confirmed the truthfulness of His Word.
O Christ our God, Who hast revealed Thyself and hast enlightened the world,
Glory to Thee.


God as man (Jesus) shows us through his example.

And this would be why.... I am a UNItarian myself ;)

Interesting thread...