The term "divine" refers to something that is holy or sacred, while "transcendence" describes an entity or concept that surpasses human understanding. Divine transcendence implies that God exists beyond human comprehension, and thus it would be impossible for humans to fully understand or interact with Him.
If this idea was replaced by divine participation, it could radically change the way we think about religion and spirituality. If God existed within our world and actively participated in it, then theology would have to adapt to account for these new realities. In this paper, we will explore how theology might evolve under such circumstances.
One major shift would be in the way we understand God's nature. If God were no longer transcendent but instead immanent - meaning present within creation - then He would be subject to the same physical laws as everything else. This would mean that theologians would need to reconsider their views on topics like creation, providence, and miracles. Instead of thinking of God as separate from His creation, they would need to grapple with how He interacted with it directly.
If God created the universe through a process of evolution, theological explanations for why He chose certain species over others would become more important than ever before.
Another impact would be on ethics. The traditional view has been that morality comes from God's commands, which are unchanging and absolute. But if God were participating in creation alongside us, then moral decisions might be more complex and subjective. Perhaps there is no right or wrong choice in every situation; maybe some situations require compromise or creativity rather than following strict rules. Theologians would have to consider how human morality relates to divine morality in this context.
A third implication would be on worship. Traditionally, worship has focused on praising God for being transcendent and holy.
If God was participating in creation, worship could take on a different form. It could involve active participation in social justice issues or environmental concerns. Worship services might center around service projects or community-building activities rather than simply singing hymns or praying.
Replacing divine transcendence with divine participation could drastically change the way we think about religion and spirituality. If God existed within our world and actively participated in it, theology would need to adapt to account for these new realities. These changes would have far-reaching consequences for how we understand topics like creation, providence, morality, and worship.
How might theology evolve if divine transcendence were replaced by divine participation?
Theology may be impacted if divine transcendence is replaced by divine participation in several ways. Firstly, it would alter the traditional understanding of God's relationship with creation as separate and distant from humanity. This could lead to new interpretations of creation narratives and the concept of intercession between God and humankind.