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Divine Action and Emergence: An Alternative to Panentheism

Ismael Hayes

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The relationship between God and the world is one of the most fundamental questions in theology and philosophy of religion. One of the most common ways of understanding this relationship is through the concept of panentheism. Panentheism holds that God is both immanent and transcendent, both within and beyond the world. In recent years, however, there has been a growing number of theologians and philosophers who have argued against panentheism, and for a form of divine action that is both immanent and transcendent.

Divine Action and Emergence: An Alternative to Panentheism

by Mariusz Tabaczek

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1418 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	365 pages

This book is a contribution to this growing debate. It argues that panentheism is ultimately inadequate as a way of understanding the relationship between God and the world. It offers an alternative account of divine action that is both immanent and transcendent, and that avoids the problems associated with panentheism.

Chapter 1: The Problem with Panentheism

The first chapter of the book begins by outlining the main problems with panentheism. One of the main problems is that panentheism is unable to account for the genuine otherness of the world. If God is both immanent and transcendent, then it is difficult to see how the world can be genuinely other than God. This is a problem because it undermines the very idea of creation. If the world is not genuinely other than God, then it is not something that God has created.

Another problem with panentheism is that it is unable to account for the genuine freedom of creatures. If God is both immanent and transcendent, then it is difficult to see how creatures can be genuinely free. This is a problem because it undermines the very idea of moral responsibility. If creatures are not genuinely free, then they are not responsible for their actions.

Chapter 2: An Alternative Account of Divine Action

The second chapter of the book offers an alternative account of divine action that is both immanent and transcendent, and that avoids the problems associated with panentheism. This account is based on the idea of emergence. Emergence is the process by which new and more complex entities arise out of simpler and less complex entities. For example, life emerges from non-life, and consciousness emerges from life. This account of divine action holds that God is both immanent and transcendent, and that God's action in the world is a form of emergence.

This account of divine action has a number of advantages over panentheism. First, it is able to account for the genuine otherness of the world. The world is not identical with God, but it is also not separate from God. It is a real and distinct entity that has its own existence and its own laws. Second, this account of divine action is able to account for the genuine freedom of creatures. Creatures are not puppets of God, but they are also not completely independent of God. They are able to make their own choices and to act in their own interests.

Chapter 3: The Implications of Divine Action

The third chapter of the book explores the implications of this account of divine action for our understanding of God, the world, and ourselves. This account of divine action has implications for our understanding of the nature of God. It suggests that God is not a static and unchanging being, but a dynamic and evolving being. It also suggests that God is not a distant and aloof being, but a God who is intimately involved in the world.

This account of divine action also has implications for our understanding of the world.

Divine Action and Emergence: An Alternative to Panentheism

by Mariusz Tabaczek

5 out of 5