But those who have been removed from their primal state of blessedness have not been removed irrecoverably, but have been placed under the rule of those holy and blessed orders which we have described; and by availing themselves of the aid of these, and being remoulded by salutary principles and discipline, they may recover themselves, and be restored to their condition of happiness. From all which I am of opinion, so far as I can see, that this order of the human race has been appointed in order that in the future world, or in ages to come, when there shall be the new heavens and new earth, spoken of by Isaiah, it may be restored to that unity promised by the Lord Jesus in His prayer to God the Father on behalf of His disciples: I do not pray for these alone, but for all who shall believe in Me through their word: that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us; and again, when He says: That they may be one, even as We are one; I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one. (Book I, Chapter 6, Part 2)

For Jews and Muslims, to name two, the Trinity is a scandal.

The more distinct the hypostases - the persons - of the Trinity, the more scandalous the Christian rejection of God's essential oneness.

But Jesus insists there is unity in diversity, not only in the wholeness of the Trinity, but in all of creation.

As each unique one is perfected - achieving our potential as individual children of God - so we are more fully part of God.

Billions of us joined together in creative, loving purpose.