I'm
convinced that the major reason why we are here on this earth is to
experience awe and wonder at the amazing beauty and goodness of the
world, and at the way in which meaning can be created out of even the
most difficult aspects of life. More profoundly, I believe that
humanity is meant to be the vehicle through which this awe and wonder is
passed on to the very Source of the Universe - to God, the Goddess, the
Divine. Accordingly, it is through us that the Divine is able to
experience SURPRISE at the beauty and wonder of life.
Classical theology typically ascribed the quality of omniscience -
all-knowing - to God, and eliminated any sense that surprise might occur
within the Divine Mind. I disagree in part with this view. As I see
it, God is able to experience surprise to a GREATER DEGREE than any
other being. This means that God is capable of experiencing a sense of
surprise, awe and wonder at even the MOST MUNDANE occurrences of life!
This ability, far from being an imperfection as the traditional
theologians would maintain, is actually an exquisite PERFECTION! And
this sense of surprise, it turns out, is mediated through US!
Like classical theologians, I agree that omniscience is a divine
quality. However, I view it as only ONE SIDE of the Divine Mind. Here,
Sacred Omniscience is like a hyper-computer, able to take the wreckage
that occurs over the course of the evolutionary process - including
especially the damages the human species has done - and reconfigure the
cosmos in such a way that a new best result is possible. However, the
OTHER SIDE of the Divine Mind is capable of endless surprise, awe and
wonder. It is these qualities that WE are meant to contribute to the
Divine - to God.
In Process Theology, this dipolar nature of
God is acknowledged and celebrated. The omniscient aspect is called the
"primordial nature" of God. And the side that experiences surprise,
awe and wonder - through us - is called the "consequent nature" of God.
Because the latter aspect - capable of knowing endless surprise at the
seemingly most mundane aspects of life - has been under-emphasized or
denied throughout history, it is THIS aspect that I am committed to
reclaiming most passionately.
The very Source of the Universe LOVES to be surprised at the smallest detail of life! How amazing!
Photo: Sunburst appearing in the fog through the branches of a Sitka Spruce along
the trail to Ruby Beach; Olympic National Park, WA; July 27, 2013
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