Divine Temporal Transcendence: A Defense of the Traditional Theological Position in Science, Philosophy, and Theology (2006)
Sansbury, Timothy N. (Author)
Princeton Theological Seminary
van Huyssteen, J. Wentzel
Edition Details: Advisor: van Huyssteen, J. Wentzel
Physical Details: 211 pp.
Language: English
The twentieth century in theology and philosophy of religion was marked by a consistent move away from the view that God transcends time. In this dissertation I defend the traditional view, believing its abandonment to be premature and its theological utility significant. In chapter l, I introduce my methodological commitment to meeting the concerns raised about temporal transcendence by first utilizing existing theological resources in deference to the history of that position. Further, I introduce timelessness as it is found in Augustine and Boethius, and answer to Nicholas Wolterstorff's concern that timelessness is immediately contrary to Scripture. In chapter two, I outline the two general concepts of time, the A-theory of time and the B-theory of time. Temporal transcendence entails the B-series of time, i.e. an extended timeline of all events, and I defend that position as coherent and even as suggested by modern physics. I also respond to philosophical and scientific worries about the coherence of the B-theory of time. In chapter three, I respond to common but less substantial worries about temporal transcendence. In particular, I show that temporal transcendence is not contrary to becoming or emergence, does not entail fatalism or determinism, and is not contrary to God's activity, knowledge, or personhood. In chapter 4 I briefly describe two flawed versions of timelessness---one dependent upon monism, the other causal determinism---and develop a thought experiment to differentiate transcendence in general from those particular views. I also demonstrate the coherence of a temporally transcendent creator of a temporal universe of contingent events, and use that model to help elucidate the activity, knowledge, and personhood of the creator. Finally, in chapter 5 I follow Calvin in responding to the problem of evil as it arises particularly if God as creator transcends time. I conclude by describing the appropriate use of temporal language in the necessary theological attempts to describe eternity, especially noting the competing strategies of Karl Barth and Paul Helm.
...MoreDescription Cited in Diss. Abstr. Int. A 67/08 (2007). Pub. no. AAT 3228890.
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