Definition

Noun: 1. A person who believes in three separate and distinct gods, specifically in the context of Christianity: A tritheist is someone who holds the belief that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct divine beings or gods, rather than three persons of one God. This belief is considered heretical from the perspective of orthodox Christian theology, which defines the Trinity as three co-equal, co-eternal persons in one Godhead.

Usage

The term is used primarily in theological and historical discussions to describe a specific type of non-orthodox belief about the nature of God in Christianity. It is a classifying noun.

Examples

• The early church councils condemned the teachings of the tritheist as a deviation from the doctrine of the Trinity.
• Some scholars argue that certain medieval philosophers were accused of being tritheists because their complex explanations of the Trinity were misunderstood.
• From a mainstream Christian perspective, a tritheist worships a triad of gods, not the triune God.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used more broadly, though less commonly, in comparative religion to describe any belief system that posits three primary or equal gods.
  • Some interpretations of ancient Egyptian religion could be described as having a tritheistic pantheon at certain periods.

Variants and Related Words

• Tritheism (n): The belief system or doctrine held by a tritheist; the belief in three separate gods.
  • The bishop wrote a treatise arguing against the heresy of tritheism.
• Tritheistic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of tritheism or tritheists.
  • His views were criticized as tritheistic.

Synonyms

• Polytheist (specifically a believer in three gods): While "polytheist" is a general term for a believer in multiple gods, "tritheist" specifies the number as three and is almost exclusively used in a Christian theological context.

Antonyms

• Monotheist: A person who believes in only one god.
• Orthodox Christian (in this specific context): A person who adheres to the doctrine of the Trinity (one God in three persons), as opposed to believing in three separate gods.

Noun

1. someone (not an orthodox Christian) who believes that the Father and Son and Holy Ghost are three separate gods