Nicaea to Alamogordo:

How totally odd that the explosion of the first atomic device was given the code name “Trinity.” The Holy Trinity is fundamental to both eastern and western branches of Christianity. It affirms the divinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In fact Trinity has become a lay word.

Trinity Site

To Robert J. Oppenheimer the phrase from Hindu scripture came to mind following the detonation. “I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

It is interesting to note that no nation that has set out to construct an atomic bomb has failed to cause a nuclear explosion to occur, which is to say that the basic mechanism is rather simple and straightforward. Perhaps Trinity was only a fore taste of how the world will end. We certainly know that nuclear winter will fall if we detonate as few as 7 hydrogen bombs.

As we enter the Christmas season let us remember the positive and life affirming nature of the word Trinity as it applies to God. But let us also note that the specter of the man made trinity remains with us. It is up to us to select which of these two Trinities we select.