To: xzins
Fascinating point. I agree with Athe way AlamoGirl wants to frame the questionIMHO neither philosophy nor theology can advance without being informed by science. With respect to time, its pretty clear that one dimension (sequential) of time is bound up with the three dimensions of space that define our mortal existence. This is the space-time continuum in which we all exist. Theology needs to start with the assumption that God exists outside of this space-time continuum and is therefore not subject to its rules.
Hugh Ross and The Rev. Polkinghorne have both written about this extensively, from markedly different perspectives but with the same sort of assumption described above. I will mention one example of how this perspective facilitates theological understanding. Thought of in terms of our universe, the Trinity is a central mathematical paradox of Christian theologyone person cant be three. However, this is very easy to describe and believe without contradiction or paradox IF you understand God to exist in a higher dimensional state. His apparently multiple nature is a result of His manifestation in our universe. Viewed in only our three dimensions of space and one of time, He is three, but in those higher dimension, He is One. With respect to the original article and its questions about time, it entirely misses the point. If God exists in a universe with more than one dimension of time, he can easily violate every rule about our sequential time system without raising an eyebrow.
38 posted on
02/06/2004 6:11:00 AM PST by
fbk4
To: fbk4
Time must be linear. Once God thinks a certain thought He cannot somehow go back in succession. He can create something and then destroy it, but it did exist for some interval or duration. He can not travel back in time before he created it. No matter what God did He could never undo any of His actions or thoughts as though they never existed. God cannot think a thought and then unthink it. God can think a different thought and change His mind, but He can never go back in time or the series of events. If God exists in a universe with more than one dimension of time, he can easily violate every rule about our sequential time system without raising an eyebrow.
Yep. It's the typical time travel paradox. The author of the above states categorically that God can not make a decision and then undo it. Which is balderdash.
God could very well have made a universe where the sky was green and the sun blue, then gone back and made it like ours. To those of us inside of creation it would be to us as if the sky had always been blue.
SD
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