The understanding that creation itself is divine becoming rather than divine completion has profound implications for theological inquiry. This concept suggests that God continues to create and evolve alongside the universe, rather than simply creating everything once and then stepping back to observe its progress. It also implies that creation is an ongoing process, constantly changing and shaping the world around us.
Under this framework, the act of creation is seen as a dynamic and interactive process between God and the cosmos, rather than a one-time event. As such, theology becomes more focused on exploring how human beings can participate in this ongoing creative process and co-create with God. This approach emphasizes the importance of relationship and interaction in understanding the nature of God, and challenges traditional notions of a distant and uninvolved deity who stands apart from the world.
Divine becoming implies that God is inherently relational and dynamic, always changing and growing in response to the world around them. This perspective sees the universe as a living organism, with God at the center, rather than a static and unchanging entity. It offers new ways of thinking about God's involvement in the world and opens up possibilities for theological reflection on topics like evolution, emergence, and complexity theory.
There are also potential pitfalls associated with this interpretation of creation.
It could lead to a sense of determinism or fatalism, where humans feel powerless to influence their own lives or destiny.
It may downplay the role of scripture or other authoritative sources in guiding our understanding of God's character and actions.
The idea of divine becoming suggests a more holistic and interconnected view of theology that places creation at the heart of religious inquiry. By recognizing the ongoing nature of creation and the active role of God in shaping the world, we open ourselves up to new ways of understanding and experiencing God's presence in our lives.
What does it mean for theology when creation itself is understood as divine becoming rather than divine completion?
The understanding of creation as divine becoming implies that God is an ongoing process of self-disclosure through creative acts, where each act of creation reveals something new about God's character and nature. This view of creation challenges traditional understandings of creation as a finished product or object, and instead emphasizes its dynamic and evolving nature.