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Are There Intimations of Divine Transcendence in the Physical World?
Author(s) -
Fagg Lawrence W.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
zygon®
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 1467-9744
pISSN - 0591-2385
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9744.00521
Subject(s) - transcendence (philosophy) , immanence , philosophy , context (archaeology) , analogy , epistemology , spirituality , relation (database) , history , database , computer science , medicine , alternative medicine , archaeology , pathology
This essay, suggesting two physical phenomena that might serve as meaningful analogies to divine transcendence, is a theological complement to two earlier Zygon articles that show how the underlying ubiquity of electromagnetic phenomena in all of nature is a compelling physical analogy to divine immanence. My perception of transcendence and its relation to immanence are specified to provide a context for the discussion. A description of our being ensconced in what I term a cosmic cocoon introduces the discussion of how the finite limit of the speed of light and quantum non‐locality could be considered as physical analogies of, or pointers to, God's transcendence. The relevance of our cosmologic future to transcendence is also treated. Selected examples of transcendence found in spiritual experiences and in religious scriptures are presented that complement the physical discussion. Finally, the relevance of this study to a theology of nature as well as a natural theology is examined.