Thus, God is simultaneous with all objects in three-dimensional space, without being contained by this three-dimensional space or four-dimensional space-time (Luco van den Brom). Now omnipresence means that within God's own space of an infinite number of dimensions, God is present in every position in three-dimensional space. With reference to mathematical conceptuality in natural science one can picture three-dimensional space as a subspace of an infinitely higher dimensional space in which God exists (Karl Heim). Given the scientific picture of the world, God's omnipresence is imagined as God's own space ( Karl Barth). Although these theologians presuppose a realistic theory of space, their view appears to be compatible only with idealistic theory. Because God is "simple" or nondivisible, God is, as a whole, in every place (Augustine). Traditionally theologians have thought of God's active presence as the universal, nonspatial, sustaining principle that prevents disintegration (Anselm of Canterbury), or as the nonspatial, spiritual cause of the hierarchy of created causes ( Thomas Aquinas). God is thought of as active everywhere and therefore God is also substantially present everywhere as an omnipresent non-material substance ( no actio in distans, Isaac Newton). Spatial dualism conceives God's omnipresence as extended in absolute space without coinciding with the created world. God is both present in and all over the world and transcends the world at the same time (Grace Jantzen process theology). Organic monism interprets the relation between God and the world as a psychosomatic unity, thus the world is God's body. Absolute monism imagines that God and created reality coincide ( Baruch Spinoza: Deus sive natura ). Three theories interpret God's omnipresence by means of a realistic theory of space. A relational theory claims that space is given with objects in their mutual relations, as the order of coexistent things. A realistic theory holds that space exists independently of the objects therein or of any observer. An idealistic theory of space denies the independent existence of space, but holds that one's observing capacity arranges objects spatially. One can distinguish idealistic, realistic, and relational theories. Is God's presence spatial or nonspatial? An answer to this question depends on the theory of space people handle.
OMNIPRESENCE POWER HOW TO
Divine presence by virtue of knowledge means that every entity is created in accordance with divine ideas and is thus mentally present to God.Īfter the demythologization of "heaven above," the question is how to imagine the relation between the divine sphere and the world of human experience. Divine power fills everything and God's being is by nature wholly present in all things, therefore God's place is where the divine power and activity manifests itself as dynamic omnipresence.
Classical theology distinguishes omnipresence by virtue of power, knowledge, and being. God's omnipresence is an active presence, which means that creation and providence find their place within God's creative presence. Concepts like transcendence, immanence, agency, knowledge, indwelling, place, and spiritual substance are basic to omnipresence. The divine attribute of omnipresence is the theological interpretation of God's hiddenness, whose presence in history is unlimited and transcends local space.
0 kommentar(er)
