I'm no expert in the philosophy of religion, so please bear with me if you are. But, reading Alvin Plantinga's Where the Conflict Really Lies has me thinking about my own theology. Help me out.
Part I of Plantinga's book discusses the philosophy/theology of how God acts in the universe. I've grossly oversimplified a few of the options here in my doodle. Which view is most biblical? (Hint: It is not "A".)
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A) There is no God; therefore, God (who does not exist) does not act in the universe at all. Consequently, the universe must be either 1) self-made or 2) eternal. It is hard to take either of these propositions seriously without some real sophistry (i.e. Richard Dawkins). This universe is closed to any outside action or intervention. This also results in pure material determinism, because every state of being in the universe is the necessary result of the preceding state of being. It could not have been otherwise, including the fact that I'm writing this unfortunately boring blog post.
B) God created the universe to operate according to certain natural laws, which he authored. The regularity makes science, production, and decision making possible. As Plantinga says in his book, when we drive our cars to work everyday, we don't have to worry that they will suddenly turn into tiny elephants. This is a partially open universe--with a door, so to speak. God, being the Master, is perfectly able and welcome to come in and alter or suspend his laws (i.e. gravity) by way of a miracle. People don't normally walk on water or rise from the dead. Essentially, everything works according to natural laws until God steps in and alters things a bit. This, too, may have some challenging implications for free will.
C) God created the universe but did not simply set it loose to operate according to its laws. He is sustaining it at every moment. Descartes said God is recreating it at every moment. He, of course, actively operates the universe with great consistency (hence, our cars don't turn into elephants...yet), but his activity is constant. When he does perform an irregular action (i.e. a resurrection or the unlikely event that your car does turn into an elephant), he is not violating some law. He's just acting a little differently than he normally does. This is not considered to be "intervention," because that implies the suspension of some regular rule. Although, they may still be called "miracles."
Pick the one that you find to be the most biblical, and leave a comment. It's even better if you say why you picked it. Thanks.
Here goes my 4th attempt.
ReplyDeleteI think both B and C are correct realistic views of the way God sustains the world, but B diminishes his power and authority. If B were true, it seems like God wouldn't have a hand in our personal lives, like spilling coffee due to gravity. To me, I'd like to think that God wants everthing to happen for a reason, not just because of an accident. In Col. 1:17, it says "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Even though God still holds things together in ex. B, if God were to just set natural laws with his authority, and just watch humanity go about it's regular life while he eats popcorn, it would seem like God has less intervention in our day to day lives. In Mark 11:23 Jesus says "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him." This is a promise by God that if we have faith in him, anything can happen. He bluntly gives this statement, which insinuates if we were to believe whole-heartedly as he intended us to, he wouldn't just walk in and out a door lifting that laws of nature.
By the way, the first 3 attempts made a whole lot more sense.
Hannah, great response! I totally agree with your assessments of 2 and 3. I had always assumed #2 until recently. While doing some reading about the relationship of science and theology, I came to think of God as actively sustaining every moment, rather than miraculously altering his laws from time to time. Your mention of Colossians 1 is right on, too. Jesus sustains every moment directly, I think. (+2 pt.)
ReplyDeleteI also choose C/3. The little bit of quantum physics I have studied confirms this view in my opinion. For one reason, the universal "laws" we talk about break down when you get down to the very basic particles that make up the universe. And when you consider that chemistry is the study of those particles interacting with other particles and biology is the study of intricately balanced chemistry to make up living machines, well, it seems awesomely incredible that this all works without HIM.
ReplyDeleteObviously, this is oversimplified and doesn't cover all the details, but in my personal walk along with all my other information, bias, worldview, etc. this is what was among the most compelling evidence that our creator still takes an active role in maintaining the cosmos he created at a very intimate level.
Anonymous, Thanks for your excellent comment. You said exactly what I was thinking. Both my increasing understanding of science and my study of theology have lead me to #3 as well. As you say, listening to scientists talk about quantum mechanics is what pushed me that direction.
DeleteThanks again, come back again.
Obviously choice 3 makes the most sense not only because you have drawn that same picture in class about 7451028462 times but because it is obvious that God is present in everything. Without him everything would fall apart. I think once you described choice B as God creating the world and then stepping back and removing himself from the equation. But it is obvious in even the most common of things (such as Nature and human beings) that God is present everywhere, all the time. Psalm 139:7-10 states "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." (Teen Study Bible, NIV) I think it is very calming knowing that God's hand is everywhere and he is always looking out for us.
ReplyDeleteMr. Mooney, I love your picture/drawings. A picture/drawing is worth a thousand words, but your picture/drawing is worth about 250 words (just kidding). Seriously, the only real choice is option three. God is in control at all times.
ReplyDeleteAnna Cain
I believe that choice 3 is the correct one, but I can also definitely understand why one would believe choice 2 as well. I hear people say a lot of times that God is just ignoring the world, or something along those lines, which goes along well with choice 2. I however believe that God is in control at all times and through everything that happens. Your drawings remind me of something we learned last year in Systematic Theology! Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteKimmy Hays
Choice 3!! This is obviously the correct answer because God is active in the world and preforms unordinary things that only a supernatural being could do!
ReplyDeleteGracie Beckman
Choice three.God created the universe but didn't allow it to operate according to its laws. He is controling it at every moment. He is all-powerful so He can do that. God is present in everything and that's why extrordinary things happen that can only be possible through Him.
ReplyDeleteChoice three. God is active in His creation and wants to be apart of it. I think many people just ignore that the miracles we see today are actually from God. Instead they credit them to doctors or other humans.
ReplyDeleteAllison Hopkins
I say three because yes, God does have control over the entire universe. He lets bad things happen, but nothing ever happens that God doesnt know about. God made life to go in an order, but miracles do happen. -Sarah Nekonchuk
ReplyDeletei say three because God did create the universe but he doesnt just let nature run rampid. he controls the universe and can make miracles happen.
ReplyDeleteCody Morris
I can see how some theologians would believe that choice 2 is the correct choice. Like in Deism, some see that God intervenes in Creation, like when Christ came, but then they ignore the work He is doing all of the other times. Choice 3 is the correct worldview for a Christian. God is always present and always working in the world. He tells us that He will always be with us which proves that He is present within the universe and that we have an open universe.
ReplyDelete-Matt Austin
Choice 3 is the best option. "For by Him all things hold together." -Colossians 1:17b. This means that God is constantly involved in sustaining His creation. If he did not, the universe would crumble. Scientists have discovered that all the matter in the universe only makes up a small part of it. They have no idea what the rest is, so they call it dark matter. Whithout God, dark matter would not exist. Nothing would exist. That went much longer than I meant it to.
ReplyDelete-Will Henley
At first I was about to chose choice 2 but then when I began to think about it, the obvious choice was 3. I can see how many people would think that choice 2 could maybe be the way that the earth runs. However, God created Earth, and he intervines and is always working in our Chistian lives. Therefore, choice 3 is the obvoious choice.
ReplyDelete-Geoff Gough
This was very thought provoking, and the choice was between 2 and 3. Then I remembered that the Bible says, "through Him all things consist." 3 was the obvious choice after that. I also didn't steal that verse reference from Will Henley
ReplyDelete-Drew Dodge
It took me a few minutes to decide between two and three, but I think three is the correct one. God created the universe, and he sustains it and the people in it at all times. The first one is wrong. The second one is iffy, but it implies that God is apart from the universe, but he comes and goes and intervines as he pleases. But the third one says that He is at all times in every part of the universe, and that is correct. Now, God is SEPERATE from the universe (as in a distinct, seperate object/being) but he is IN the universe everywhere. Psalm 139:7-10 starts out by saying "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?". This implies that God is ALWAYS in the universe, with us. He dosen't just come and go. Therefore, the only one that can be completely right is option number three.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion the choice is C. God is involved in our lives daily and is always present.
ReplyDeleteBigWillyDen
Oh, definitely three. God created the universe and wants to enjoy His beautiful art. Miracles happen daily, and often credit doesn't go to the Master. We should praise Him always for His love.
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 40:28-31 says,"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." God is omnipresent.
-Jamie Potter
Honestly, when reading this, after i read B, it sounded pretty good! However, then i went on to read C and decided upon that one. The second says that God is only present some of the time rather than constantly being in our everyday life. That he made the ground rules for us and just leaves us be and every now and then does something spectacular. Without God sustaining us and withholding sin, we would be lost and I am not sure what would happen to us!!!
ReplyDelete-Mallory Bryant
I'm a bit conflicted with chosing which one is the most Biblical. After mentally debating between choice b and c, i finally came to the conclusion of c. I dont think that God would ever actually leave us alone in the world, so the theory with the door is slightly pushed away in my mind.
ReplyDelete~Jessa Wilson
i would have to choose the third one because it makes the most sense to me. then so does the second one. they are both good arguments but the third one shows that god is in control and is working in his creation.
ReplyDeleteI think its choice 3. If God didn't constantly have control of the earth it would go into complete turmoil.
ReplyDelete- Christian Cox
Obviously the answer is C. ever since the death of Jesus Christ when the veil was torn, we have complete access to communicate with our God on a personal basis. we have no barriers. I love when you draw diagrams like these because they help me to see the situation more clearly.
ReplyDeleteEmily Hill
I think the answer is C, but B is close. I chose C over B because God is clearly working in our lives constamtly; I don't think He just set the world on auotpilot and takes over every now and then. -Gattis
ReplyDeleteI really like your drawing haha. I say choice 3 because i personally think that it clearly explains how God works in our lives, in universe.
ReplyDeleteLeeah richards
I believe in theism :)
ReplyDeleteBrian Park
ReplyDeleteIt's what we talked about today! I say that C bests fits with Christianity, because I believe that God constantly works with the universe and with people sometimes with miracle, or with nature. The strongest evidence I see that God works with an open- universe is the fact that God sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.
I say C because God always works on our daily life thats why there were miracles happened. -Juwon Park
ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe that C is the most biblical view. God continuously does work in both people and with the whole world. I believe that there is nothing blocking our communication with God along with God's works in every life in the world.
ReplyDelete-Zachery Son