I believe you'll find that the idea of the Trinity was indeed poached from Christianity by those other pagan religions. We see the Trinity in Genesis, in the Creation; so in fact if you believe the bible, and that indeed was the beginning of all things, then God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were there far before anything else.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And in verse 26 it says: Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."
Some will say ' this is God speaking to his angels', but angels are not made in Gods likeness, they are spiritual beings, and while they can take on human form (as they often do when communicating Gods message to humans in the bible), we see in Revelations that they are vastly different beings then we are.
And of course John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This tells us that all members of the Trinity were present at creation....hard for other religions to have this idea before that.
As to the claim that the Trinity is a 'pagan' and therefore erroneous belief, that is just wrong. We see this so often in scripture; mostly in the New T, but also in the Old. That our one God exists in three persons, and we see this by how the different members of the Trinity function in human history. They relate to one another and play different roles. Some examples are:
At Jesus' baptism by John, where the Son is anointed for his public ministry by the Spirit, descending as a dove, with the Father declaring from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matt 3:13-17). All three persons of the Trinity are present, and each one is doing something different.
The bible goes on and on in reference to the plurality of God, speaking of God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. Prayers and songs are given to all three...it is clear that Jesus' disciples and apostles regard it this way. The worshiped Jesus as God, they recognized that he was sent by the Father, and they knew they had the empowering Spirit within them, helping their ministry.
As far as you not being an Adventist, I am interested in what you do call yourself. There are an interesting number of would be "christian" faiths, but they differ so significantly with major Christian doctrines and historic orthodoxy (by this I mean the doctrine set in apostolic times, and also the leading church fathers). They are also incompatible with trusting in the Jesus Christ of the Bible for the salvation that comes by God's grace alone.
Some cults that do not believe in the Trinity are: Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science.
These are religions that claim to be christian, but if we want to consider other religions that deny the Trinity we could even go to Islam, Judaism etc.
So out of interest, what do you call yourself? Because based on Christian doctrine, the Trinity is very real and quite frankly, one of the necessary claims of Christianity. Every Protestant or Catholic church will agree on this....not on a lot of things! But the Trinity? There is no doubt! So if you don't, what do you call yourself??
I will tell you I'm neither Mormon, JW., OR Christian Science. I follow the true and living God. The God Of Abraham , Issac, and Israel(Jacob). No titles. Just a Bible following Christian. And as for the word "spirit" in the Bible it is use inner changeably. God uses the word spirit to speak of his angels. God uses the word spirit to speak of the breath of life. God uses the word spirit to speak of His words. Now that I made this statement let me back it up with scripture.
1.) God uses the word "spirit" to speak of his angels.
Isaiah 63 :[sup]7[/sup]I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. [sup]8[/sup]For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
[sup]9[/sup]In all their affliction he was afflicted,
and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
[sup]10[/sup]But they rebelled,
and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
Here it is saying they vexed his holy spirit (the angel) Not God!
Another example in the New Testament.
Acts8:[sup]26[/sup]And the
angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
[sup]27[/sup]And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
[sup]28[/sup]Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
[sup]29[/sup]Then the
Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
First the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, then the Spirit said to Philip. This angel and Spirit are one and the same. Why would the angel have to tell Philip anything, if the Spirit inside of him could of told him. Lets read with some understanding. Let continue to verse to vs 39 [sup]39[/sup]And when they were come up out of the water, the
Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. What spirit of the Lord? The angel who spoke to Philip from the beginning was consider the spirit of the Lord. Or did the angel start the conversation, and God the Holy Ghost finished it? Again read with an open a clear view of the scriptures. If you read the scriptures with a preconceived notion. You can see what ever you want to see.
2.) God uses the word "spirit" to speak of the breath of life
Lets start at Genesis
Genesis 2:[sup]7[/sup]And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Remember that.
Job 27:[sup]2[/sup]As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;
[sup]3[/sup]All the while my breath is in me, and
the spirit of God is in my nostrils; Moses said spirit in nostrils. Job called it spirit of God in his nostrils.
3.)God uses the word "spirit" to speak of His words.
John 6:
[sup]60[/sup]Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
[sup]61[/sup]When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
[sup]62[/sup]What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
[sup]63[/sup]It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are life
Jesus Himself said that His words were spirit and they are life. So lets put all together. God's word is spirit, and holy = Holy Spirit .... So when you read, and accept this holy word, you get understanding, and are full of His Holy Spirit.
God's holy angel = God's Holy Spirit. Angels are ministering spirits.
Heb. 1: [sup]13[/sup]But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?[sup]14[/sup]
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
And finally when a man dies, His God's spirit in the nostrils goes back to God who gave it.
Eccl. 1:[sup]7[/sup]Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the
spirit shall return unto God who gave it. His spirit or (breath of life) return back to God who gave it.
So as far as you pointing out the "trinity" in Gen 1....... The spirit hovering over the water is just God's power. Don't let the word spirit confuse you. There are too many examples of the Bible which show the father and son being God. No where, unless you personally interpret it, show the Holy Spirit as God. The bible clearly says Jesus the son was God. And everyone knows the father is God.
Psalm. 110:[sup]1[/sup]The
LORD said unto my
Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psalm 45: [sup]6[/sup]Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. [sup]7[/sup]Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore
God (1), thy
God(2), hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Once again only father and son.
John 1: [sup]1[/sup]In the beginning was the
Word (1), and the
Word was with God (2), and the Word was God. I notice I haven't seen three yet!!
1 john 5
:[sup]7[/sup]For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
This doesn't mean three persons in one God. They are all one in thought, Like if you and your wife had the same beliefs you would be both one in spirit. Like with what Paul said in Ephesians 4:[sup]4[/sup]There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; [sup]5[/sup]One Lord, one faith, one baptism, [sup]6[/sup]One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Their is NO three persons in God. Just the Father and Son are God. The Holy Spirit = God's holy word. and God's ministering spirit (angels).
You can say I'm in a cult. But I keep God's law, minus sacrificial, His Feast Days, not those pagan days, Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. All the holidays the so called modern day Christian's keep. I keep the Lord's Sabbath Day. Not the pagan Sunday worship like most of the modern day Christians keep. Most of the beliefs taught and spread started in the 4th century. Starting with Constantine the Roman emperor. Christmas (winter solstice), Easter (goddess of fertility), Halloween ( Hollows Eve) . ALL PAGAN FESTIVALS. SO BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO CALL ME HERETIC, OR SAY I'M IN A CULT. WATCH YOUR OWN ACTIONS, IF YOU KEEP THESE HOLIDAYS.... WELL THEN THAT'S BETWEEN YOU AND GOD!!!!