The Trinity in the Theology of Michael Servetus

Year 2022, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 173 - 206, 15.01.2023

Talha Fortacı

https://doi.org/10.51490/oksident.1185570

Cited By: 2

Abstract

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The Trinity (taslīs in Arabic), which constitutes the most fundamental dogma of Christianity, expresses a triune conception of God represented as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In its current form, the Trinity has been made the official belief basis of Christianity following the decisions taken in the councils, which occupy a significant place in the history of Christianity. In the most general terms, Trinity is the belief that each of these three entities, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is God and that there is no superiority or difference between them in divinity. Acceptance of the Trinity is necessary for becoming a Christian. Nevertheless, it is well-known that in the history of Christianity, some individuals and groups rejected the Trinity despite identifying themselves as ‘‘Christians’’. The most notable of these names is Michael Servetus. He is also considered the founder of the movement known today as Unitarianism. Servetus wrote some books in which he seriously criticized the Holy Trinity. According to Servetus, the Trinity is not mentioned in the Holy Bible, and this dogma has no place in the essence of Christianity. The Trinity is a construct fashioned by Greek philosophy and falsifies Christianity. These objections, which made an overwhelming impression in his time, greatly angered the Protestant and Catholic theologians. Servetus was burned to death in Geneva in 1553 due to Catholic and Protestant collaboration. This study examines the religious thought of Michael Servetus, particularly his interpretation of the Trinity, and analyzes his challenges to the traditional understanding of the Trinity.

Keywords

Michael Servetus, History of Religions, Christianity, Unitarianism, Trinity

Michael Servetus’un Teolojisinde Teslis

Abstract

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Hristiyanlığın en temel dogması olan teslis, Baba, Oğul ve Kutsal Ruh şeklinde temsil edilen üçlü bir Tanrı tasavvurunu ifade eder. Mevcut haliyle teslis, Hristiyanlık tarihinde çok önemli yeri olan konsillerde alınan kararlar doğrultusunda Hristiyanlığın resmi inanç esası halini almıştır. En genel izahla teslis inancı, Baba, Oğul ve Kutsal Ruh olarak ifadelendirilen bu üç uknumun her birinin Tanrı olduğuna, tanrısallık bakımından aralarında herhangi bir üstünlük veyahut farklılık bulunmadığına iman etmektir ve bir Hristiyan olabilmenin en temel şartı bu dogmayı kabul etmektir. Bununla birlikte, Hristiyanlık tarihinde kendilerini “Hristiyan” olarak tanımlamalarına rağmen teslisi redde-den bazı kişi ve grupların varlığı da bir hakikattir. Örneğin, bu isimlerden en önemlisi bugün Üniteryanizm olarak bilinen hareketin de kurucusu kabul edilen Michael Servetus’tur. Servetus, teslis hakkında ciddi eleştiriler yaptığı bazı eserler yazmıştır. O, teslisin Kutsal Kitap’ta geçmediğini söylemekte ve Hristiyanlığın özünde bu dogmanın yer almadığını iddia etmektedir. Servetus’a göre teslis, Yunan felsefesinin etkisiyle şekillenmiş bir kavramdır ve Hristiyanlığı tahrif etmektedir. Döneminde oldukça ses getiren bu itirazlar zamanın Protestan ve Katolik ilahiyatçılarını oldukça kızdırmıştır ve Servetus 1553 yılında Katolik-Protestan iş birliğiyle Cenevre’de yakılarak öldürülmüştür. Bu çalışmada Michael Servetus’un dinî düşüncesi özellikle teslise bakışı bağlamında incelenmiş ve geleneksel teslis anlayışına getirdiği eleştiriler analiz edilmiştir.

Keywords

Dinler Tarihi, Hıristiyanlık, Teslis, Michael Servetus, Üniteryanizm, History of Religions, Christianity, Trini-ty, Unitarianism

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