March 16, 2013

St. Patrick and the Trinity

By Joe

According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain about God. The shamrock, which looks like clover, has three leaves on each stem.  Saint Patrick told the people that the shamrock was like the idea of the Trinity, that in the one God there are three divine beings: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The shamrock was sacred to the Druids, so Saint Patrick’s use of it in explaining the trinity was very wise.

This is one of the many examples in the history of Christianity in which our religion has been flexible and used sacred symbols of other faiths to adopt/adapt to Christian beliefs.  Too many Christians believe that Christianity cannot be flexible, open to different interpretations, or, heaven forbid, should be all inclusive.  If early Christians had not adapted, then the loving religion that I have faith in would have never spread as it did.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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About Joe

I began my life in the South and for five years lived as a closeted teacher, but am now making a new life for myself as an oral historian in New England. I think my life will work out the way it was always meant to be. That doesn't mean there won't be ups and downs; that's all part of life. It means I just have to be patient. I feel like October 7, 2015 is my new birthday. It's a beginning filled with great hope. It's a second chance to live my life…not anyone else's. My profile picture is "David and Me," 2001 painting by artist Steve Walker. It happens to be one of my favorite modern gay art pieces. View all posts by Joe

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 16th, 2013 at 10:16 pm and posted in Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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4 responses to “St. Patrick and the Trinity”

• Richard
  March 17th, 2013 at 8:11 am

  But that is not a shamrock.This is a shamrock:http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID1827/images/shamrock.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.examiner.com/article/shamrock-shuttle&h=309&w=337&sz=23&tbnid=tidoy94MOAo56M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=98&zoom=1&usg=__5jA22qGTlfs-ayug6D6VA7j5Neg=&docid=rl1hKcWOxKXPXM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KMBFUZSCM5Om4AOgq4GQDA&ved=0CFEQ9QEwBA&dur=7562

  Reply
• JoeBlow
  March 17th, 2013 at 8:21 am

  Richard, I realized that it was not a shamrock because it has four leaves, but I liked the image of the cross and clover. It was an aesthetic thing.

  Reply
• Jay M.
  March 17th, 2013 at 10:10 am

  Happy Saint Patrick's Day, Joe!Peace <3Jay

  Reply
• silvereagle
  March 17th, 2013 at 10:54 am

  "Adaptability" – or day I say 'evolution'? Whatever, although the expressions of Christianity may change from generation to genwration, Christ is constant!Thanks, again.

  Reply