by jimwalton » Sun May 27, 2018 5:56 pm
Non-dualism is not possible in Christian theology.
Subject-object reality is necessary in a Christian worldview as well as in the Godhead (Trinity) Himself. Dr. Joe Boot writes, "If God is not the triune Lord revealed in Jesus Christ, then the doctrine of creation is rendered impossible, and man is part of a cosmic chain of being. This is because a monadic conception of God as some kind of singularity leaves us with the emptiness and void of non-personality as ultimate. If there is no plurality within God's being, then there is no subject-object relationship, no particularity, only a blank unity. In such a view of God there can be no foundation for knowledge, love, morality, or ethics. Indeed, without an absolute personality, there is no diversity or distinction basic to reality at all; ultimate reality is a bare unity about which nothing may be said. This is why the Trinity is so important in tackling the philosophical problem of the one and the many. Moreover, because a denial of the Trinity leads to a denial of an absolute personality, we cannot speak coherently of the will of God. Only persons have a will. But if God has no will, then creation is not the free act of an absolute, personal God. Rather, the universe is the emanation of divine being, and what we call the universe is merely the extension of god, or, as some pagans would say, it is the body of god."
Francis Schaeffer writes that if pantheism is true (separation does not exist), then for us to be personal beings is impossible and we at best are "unfulfilled products of chance in a sterile sport." Only if there is subject-object separation is there a possibility for love, compassion, the real meaning of personality, and a real reason to keep humanity alive. If there is not personality, then there is no intrinsic meaning to personality.
Robert Walton writes, "Implicit in [pantheism] is a denial of the existence of matter, a rejection of individual identity, and an affirmation of the ultimate uniting of all things (in Nirvana or the World Soul), often after multiple reincarnations. If all is one, there is ultimately no difference between good and evil, though all Eastern religions distinguish between behavior that will enhance one's search for unity with the World Soul or journey to Nirvana and that which will not. The goal of human experience is not to be found in the course
of history, which is essentially unreal, but in a final escape from the endless round of reincarnations."
In other words, "non-dualistic" cannot possibly describe Christianity or Christian belief. It's an explicit contradiction to our theology.
Non-dualism is not possible in Christian theology.
Subject-object reality is necessary in a Christian worldview as well as in the Godhead (Trinity) Himself. Dr. Joe Boot writes, "If God is not the triune Lord revealed in Jesus Christ, then the doctrine of creation is rendered impossible, and man is part of a cosmic chain of being. This is because a monadic conception of God as some kind of singularity leaves us with the emptiness and void of non-personality as ultimate. If there is no plurality within God's being, then there is no subject-object relationship, no particularity, only a blank unity. In such a view of God there can be no foundation for knowledge, love, morality, or ethics. Indeed, without an absolute personality, there is no diversity or distinction basic to reality at all; ultimate reality is a bare unity about which nothing may be said. This is why the Trinity is so important in tackling the philosophical problem of the one and the many. Moreover, because a denial of the Trinity leads to a denial of an absolute personality, we cannot speak coherently of the will of God. Only persons have a will. But if God has no will, then creation is not the free act of an absolute, personal God. Rather, the universe is the emanation of divine being, and what we call the universe is merely the extension of god, or, as some pagans would say, it is the body of god."
Francis Schaeffer writes that if pantheism is true (separation does not exist), then for us to be personal beings is impossible and we at best are "unfulfilled products of chance in a sterile sport." Only if there is subject-object separation is there a possibility for love, compassion, the real meaning of personality, and a real reason to keep humanity alive. If there is not personality, then there is no intrinsic meaning to personality.
Robert Walton writes, "Implicit in [pantheism] is a denial of the existence of matter, a rejection of individual identity, and an affirmation of the ultimate uniting of all things (in Nirvana or the World Soul), often after multiple reincarnations. If all is one, there is ultimately no difference between good and evil, though all Eastern religions distinguish between behavior that will enhance one's search for unity with the World Soul or journey to Nirvana and that which will not. The goal of human experience is not to be found in the course
of history, which is essentially unreal, but in a final escape from the endless round of reincarnations."
In other words, "non-dualistic" cannot possibly describe Christianity or Christian belief. It's an explicit contradiction to our theology.