What is the Relation of an Eternal God to a Temporal World

1
What is the Relation of an Eternal God to a
Temporal World?

• 1. The Science of Time and Eternity
• 2. The Philosophy of Time and Eternity
• 3. The Theology of Time and Eternity
• 4. Everlasting, Temporal Eternity two
• 5. Timeless Eternity views
• 6. Gods Response to the Human Cry
• 7. Conclusions Trinity and Incarnation

2
1. The Science Bit

• Relativity
• The Universe as a block of spacetime
• The Fragmented Present

3
1. The Science Bit
Spacetime and the Block Universe
Time
Space (showing only 2 of the 3 dimensions)
4
1. The Science Bit
Spacetime and the Block Universe
2000 A.D.
Each plane represents a moment in time
1000 A.D.
Time
1 A.D.
But for whom?
Space (showing only 2 of the 3 dimensions)
5
2. Philosophy

• Two views of time

A matter of ontological status
Static time
Dynamic time
2000 A.D.
The Future
The Present
1000 A.D.
The Past
1 A.D.
6
3. Theology
How does God fit in?
Two Views of Eternity

• A) Time that goes on and on and on and on
• Eternity as an infinite amount of time

• B) The absence of time
• Eternity as a zero amount of time

7
4. Everlasting, Temporal Eternity

• A) Time that goes on and on and on and on
• Eternity as an infinite amount of time

2) How long is Gods present moment?
PROBLEMS 1) Is God subject to time?
God Humankind
God Humankind
God Humankind
3) Whose present?
God Humankind
God Humankind
God Humankind
8
5. Timeless Eternity

• B) The absence of time
• Eternity as a zero amount of time
• God is outside time
• God sees the whole spacetime block universe

PROBLEMS 1) Freewill?
2) Does God listen?
G
D
9
6. Gods Response to the Human Cry

• If God is outside time, does God really respond
  to us?
• Atemporal causality
• If God is outside time, can God be a person?
• Personhood, consciousness and time
• Expanding the limits of now
• Gods specious present

10
7. Conclusions

• Gods specious present extends through all time
• Post-classical physics fits surprisingly well
  with classical theology
• Trinitarian considerations
• Father outside time (atemporal)
• Jesus as God made temporal, becoming the portal
  through which we pass from time to eternity, and
  Gods grace passes from eternity into time
• Holy Spirit as mediator of these processes?

11
AppendicesPracticalities?

• Retroactive prayer?
• Prayer for the dead?
• Worship as the transcendence of time