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Aging and the cross: Explorations in Deep Incarnation
Author(s) -
Simmons Ernest L.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
dialog
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.114
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 1540-6385
pISSN - 0012-2033
DOI - 10.1111/dial.12512
Subject(s) - incarnation , theodicy , creatures , philosophy , theology , epistemology , natural (archaeology) , biology , paleontology
Aging is theologically explored in both creation and the cross through the concept of Deep Incarnation. As a partial extension of Martin Luther's thought, Deep Incarnation affirms God to be intimately involved in the natural processes of all biological creation, including aging, bringing solace, companionship, and hope to the elderly. God conceived as being both in the creation and beyond it (panentheism) allows for divine grace to relate to all creatures from the cellular level on up, including through evolutionary development. Employing the concept of compound theodicy, evolutionary theodicy is also briefly explored.