The Speak Life Podcast

Is The Trinity a Maths Problem? — Dan McClellan vs Joshua Sijuwade Debate || SLP652

May 7, 2026
Joshua Sijuwade, analytic philosopher of religion clarifying Trinitarian doctrine, and Dan McClellan, Bible scholar exploring historical and cognitive views of deity, debate the Trinity. They spar over whether Nicene language resolves tensions, how patristic texts and Augustine shaped modern readings, and the role of imperial power and catechesis in settling beliefs.
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INSIGHT

Scholarship Rooted In Cognitive Study Of Deity

  • Dan's academic path from Mormonism into cognitive linguistics shaped his focus on how ancient peoples conceptualized deity and divine agency.
  • His dissertation and book examine divine images and how an image can both represent and not be identical with a deity.
INSIGHT

Analytic Philosophy Applied To The Trinity

  • Joshua defines philosophy of religion as clarifying religious claims' meaning and justification using analytic tools from metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics.
  • He applies that method to the Trinity, aiming to show both coherence and reasons to believe it.
INSIGHT

NT Presents A Spectrum Of Christologies

  • Dan reads the New Testament as offering a spectrum of Christologies where authors sometimes equate Jesus with God and sometimes sharply distinguish him.
  • He proposes allowing each author to operate on its own terms rather than forcing univocality.
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