Trinity and Monotheism: A Historical and Theological Review of the Origins and Substance of the Doctrine By A. Keith Thompson

The history of Christian beliefs about the nature of God is complex. It would be helpful for Latter-day Saints and other Christians to have a simple, straightforward introduction to this topic. A. Keith Thompson, professor of law and the associate dean at the Sydney School of Law of the University of Notre Dame Australia, who previously worked as international legal counsel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, set out to write such a book. Motivated in part by his interfaith work and by his own religious beliefs as a Latter-day Saint, Thompson wrote Trinity and Monotheism to “build bridges of understanding” among all who believe in Jesus Christ (9). This is a noble pursuit. I wholeheartedly support Thompson’s notion “that better understanding can enable deeper and more respectful inter-Christian dialogue” (171). Unfortunately, Thompson’s efforts in Trinity and Monotheism are marred by the misrepresentation and omission of important historical facts as well as by the poor use of sources.