Please pardon me for speaking, since I've never done so before. I've been reading the posts and would like to add commentary here if permitted.

I've been following two threads with interest - The Evils of the Trinity Idea and The Great Matrix II Thread. The topics are somewhat parallel because they both deal with God and both deal with free will.

I'll take the easy one first - The Matrix. (Which incidentally has a flip side; I'll not get into the flip side now.)

The Matrix/Zion = Creation.
The Architect = God.
Neo = The created meets the creator. (Remember Star Trek, the Movie? Same topic - the created meets the creator.)

The discussion the Architect has with Neo is fascinating. Scripture says all things are created by God, sustained by God. The Matrix is an obvious illustration of this. Scripture also says mankind has a free will. Mankind is created by God, sustained by God, but possesses a free will to accept or reject God. In the Matrix movie, those who exercise their free will and want to be free of the Matrix enter Zion.

The Architect calls Neo's free will a flaw in design.
In reality, mankind's free will, apart from the control of God, is an incredible and awesome creation. The fact that God could create a being that had a will apart from God's own will is truly a masterpiece.

Now for the Trinity explanation. I can't possibly post it all here but here's an abbreviated, super-simplified version.

A human being has 3 parts, Body, Soul & Spirit. The Body is the visible part, the part we see, consisting of senses, ability to move and communicate by touch, sound etc. The body is where the brain is, the computer program in charge of running the body.

The Spirit is an invisible part of the body, consisting of the ability to communicate on a spiritual level, the heart of the emotions, the personality and other intangibles.

The Soul is also invisible. The soul is supreme boss. The soul is where the will is. The will decides things, working with the body and spirit on all matters.

I am body, soul and spirit. All 3 work independently of each other and at the same time with each other to make me who I am.

I've been created in the image of God.

God has 3 parts, Body, Soul & Spirit. Jesus is the Body of God, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the Father is the Soul of God. Jesus said "when you have seen me, you have seen the Father." The Father said "There is no way to the Father but through the son." God said "Let us make man in our image." One being God made one being Mankind.

Take this further and it gets even more fun. Just as God is one being "I AM", so I am one being - Julia, with body, spirit & soul. But just as God is one AND more than one - Jesus, Holy Spirit and Father - so I am more than one. My other part's name is David and we are one in marriage.

So if my husband is created in the image of one God and also of Jesus, the Body of God, then my husband is a perfect illustration of one part of the Trinity.
I, his wife, have been created in the image one God and also of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God and I am another part of the image of the Trinity.

Being a visible illustration of the Trinity, my husband represents Jesus, I represent the Holy Spirit. But where is the center? The Soul? That is where God - I AM enters. Every human being is created incomplete, with a "God-shaped hole" in the center of our being that only God can fill. It is this need that drives us to find God. With him, we are then complete. With him, we are the perfect image of the Trinity.

I realize I left a zillion unfinished ends and probably raised at least as many questions. There's a lot more to it that these simple paragraphs here. But I couldn't bear reading all the posts without giving some answers.

Julia