1 copyright r. j. russell 2005 theology from creation to new creation overview

11Copyright R. J. Russell 2005Copyright R. J. Russell 2005

Theology from Creation to Theology from Creation to New CreationNew Creation

OverviewOverview

Copyright R. J. Russell 2005Copyright R. J. Russell 2005 22

Key topics in theologyKey topics in theology

• Our Father who art in heaven,

• Hallowed be thy Name

• Thy reign come

• Thy will be done

• On earth as it is in heaven.

• Give us this day our daily bread

• Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

• Lead us not into temptation,

• Deliver us from evil

• For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory

• Forever

• Creation of heaven and earth

• Eschatology: parousia

• Divine action


• Moral evil

• Eschatology: eternal life


Key topics in theology and the challenge of Key topics in theology and the challenge of sciencescience


• Divine action

• Moral evil

• Eschatology: second coming, resurrection and eternal life

• Big Bang cosmology:– t=0

– ‘only earth’

• Laws of nature / interventionist divine action

• ‘Fall without the Fall’ and natural evil

• Big Bang cosmology:– ‘freeze or fry’


Meeting the challenge: Creative mutual interaction:Meeting the challenge: Creative mutual interaction:2005 Goshen Conference Lectures 1, 2, & 32005 Goshen Conference Lectures 1, 2, & 3

• Creation of heaven and earth: Lecture1 --- Fri. night

– Assumptions underlying science: Path 6

– t=0: Consonance, Path 1 Conflict, Path7

• ‘Fall without the Fall’: Lecture 2: Sat morning

– Natural and moral evil: Path 3

• Non-interventionist divine action– CTNS/Vatican Observatory series– Paths 3 and 4

• Eschatology: Lecture 3 NOW!– Revise eschatology: Paths 3, 4 – New research in science: Paths 6,

7, 8


Methodology of Creative Mutual InteractionMethodology of Creative Mutual Interaction


Eschatology and Cosmology:Eschatology and Cosmology:Guidelines for their InteractionGuidelines for their Interaction

Lecture 3Lecture 3Fifth Annual Goshen Conference Fifth Annual Goshen Conference

ononScience and ReligionScience and Religion

Robert John RussellRobert John RussellThe Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences,The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences,

The Graduate Theological UnionThe Graduate Theological UnionBerkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley, California

March 20, 2005March 20, 2005


Resurrection: key pointsResurrection: key points

• The resurrection as transformation:

– The resurrection of Jesus: neither resuscitation (e.g., the daughter of Jairus – Mk 5:22, Lazarus – Jn: 11:1) nor spiritual escape but bodily transformation.

– Transformation means there are elements of continuity (e.g., it is Jesus, he can be touched, he can eat) as well as discontinuity (e.g., the modes of the appearances, his ascension) between Jesus of Nazareth and the Risen Jesus.


Resurrection: key pointsResurrection: key points

• The relation between the resurrection of Christ and the general resurrection of the dead at the end of the age: the logic of Paul, 1 Cor. 15: 12-20.

– “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up --- if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”


The challenges:The challenges:cosmology cosmology eschatology eschatologyeschatology eschatology cosmology cosmology

The challenge from cosmology to eschatology: If the The challenge from cosmology to eschatology: If the predictions of contemporary scientific cosmology come to predictions of contemporary scientific cosmology come to pass there will never be a general resurrection. Therefore pass there will never be a general resurrection. Therefore Christ has not been raised from the dead, and our hope is Christ has not been raised from the dead, and our hope is in vain (1 Cor. 15). in vain (1 Cor. 15).

The challenge from eschatology to cosmology: If it is The challenge from eschatology to cosmology: If it is true that Jesus rose bodily from the dead, then the general true that Jesus rose bodily from the dead, then the general resurrection cannot be impossible. This must in turn mean resurrection cannot be impossible. This must in turn mean that the future of the universe will not be what scientific that the future of the universe will not be what scientific cosmology predicts.cosmology predicts.


Guideline 1: Meeting the challenge: Guideline 1: Meeting the challenge: Reject our philosophical assumptions about Reject our philosophical assumptions about

sciencescience

The challenge is not from science but from the The challenge is not from science but from the philosophical assumptionsphilosophical assumptions we bring to science: we bring to science:

Enlightenment / modernist assumptionsEnlightenment / modernist assumptionsscientific predictions scientific predictions mustmust come to pass come to pass the dead stay deadthe dead stay deadanalogy of history / analogy of natureanalogy of history / analogy of nature

cf. Hume, Rudolf Bultmann, John Dominic Crossoncf. Hume, Rudolf Bultmann, John Dominic Crosson


Guideline 1: Meeting the challenge: Reject our Guideline 1: Meeting the challenge: Reject our philosophical assumptions about sciencephilosophical assumptions about science

Instead assume that scientific laws describe the Instead assume that scientific laws describe the regularities of nature. If these regularities are ultimately regularities of nature. If these regularities are ultimately due to the regular and faithful action of God as ongoing due to the regular and faithful action of God as ongoing Creator and if God Creator and if God chooseschooses to act in a new way, then the to act in a new way, then the future will future will not not be what science predicts! be what science predicts!

Since God acted in a new way at Easter and promises Since God acted in a new way at Easter and promises to continue to do so, then: the ‘freeze’ or ‘fry’ predictions to continue to do so, then: the ‘freeze’ or ‘fry’ predictions for the cosmological future do not hold.for the cosmological future do not hold.

““Resurrection is the first instance of a new law of the Resurrection is the first instance of a new law of the new creation”new creation”

12Copyright R. J. Russell 2005

Guideline 2: Guideline 2: Eschatology should embrace methodological Eschatology should embrace methodological naturalism and thus physics, cosmology and naturalism and thus physics, cosmology and

biology regarding the past.biology regarding the past.

Any eschatology which we might construct must be Any eschatology which we might construct must be ‘scientific’ in its description of the ‘scientific’ in its description of the pastpast history of history of the universe. It must be constrained by the universe. It must be constrained by methodological naturalism in its description of the methodological naturalism in its description of the past and draw fully on physics, cosmology and past and draw fully on physics, cosmology and evolutionary biology.evolutionary biology.

it should not claim that God should be part of the it should not claim that God should be part of the scientific explanation of the processes and scientific explanation of the processes and properties of natureproperties of nature

note: this guideline separates this proposal as note: this guideline separates this proposal as sharply as possible from sharply as possible from ‘intelligent design’‘intelligent design’..

note: methodological naturalism does note: methodological naturalism does notnot carry carry entail metaphysical naturalism (i.e., entail metaphysical naturalism (i.e., atheismatheism).).


Guideline 3: Guideline 3: Metaphysical options are limited but not Metaphysical options are limited but not

forced.forced.

These options include These options include physicalism (Nancey Murphy)physicalism (Nancey Murphy) emergent monism (Arthur Peacocke)emergent monism (Arthur Peacocke) dual-aspect monism (John Polkinghorne)dual-aspect monism (John Polkinghorne) ontological emergence (Robert Russell)ontological emergence (Robert Russell) panexperientialism (Whiteheadian metaphysics: Ian panexperientialism (Whiteheadian metaphysics: Ian

Barbour)Barbour) othersothers

They do not include metaphysical naturalism (atheism)They do not include metaphysical naturalism (atheism)


Guideline 4: Guideline 4: Eschatology in light of the ‘resurrection of the Eschatology in light of the ‘resurrection of the

body.’ body.’ ‘Transformability’ and the formal conditions ‘Transformability’ and the formal conditions

for its possibilityfor its possibility

Our starting point is based on the resurrection of Our starting point is based on the resurrection of Jesus: neither resuscitation nor spiritual escape Jesus: neither resuscitation nor spiritual escape but bodily transformation. but bodily transformation.

Transformation means there are elements of Transformation means there are elements of continuity as well as discontinuity between Jesus continuity as well as discontinuity between Jesus of Nazareth and the Risen Jesus.of Nazareth and the Risen Jesus.



body.’ body.’ ‘Transformability’ and the formal conditions ‘Transformability’ and the formal conditions

for its possibilityfor its possibility

The new creation is not totally discontinuous The new creation is not totally discontinuous with the present creation --- a second with the present creation --- a second ex nihiloex nihilo. . Nor does it evolve continuously out of the old Nor does it evolve continuously out of the old with all the laws of nature intact. with all the laws of nature intact.

Instead, God will transform the universe into the Instead, God will transform the universe into the new creation new creation ex vetereex vetere (Polkinghorne). (Polkinghorne).

It follows that God must have created the It follows that God must have created the universe universe such that it is transformablesuch that it is transformable by God’s by God’s action into the new creation. This means that action into the new creation. This means that God must have created the universe with God must have created the universe with precisely those precisely those characteristicscharacteristics which it needs in which it needs in order to be transformable by God. order to be transformable by God.



body.’ body.’ The crucial role of science.The crucial role of science.

Science can be of immense help to the theological Science can be of immense help to the theological task of understanding something about that task of understanding something about that transformation if we can find a way to identify transformation if we can find a way to identify these needed conditions, characteristics and these needed conditions, characteristics and preconditions for transformation, i.e., these preconditions for transformation, i.e., these “elements of continuity”.“elements of continuity”.

Science might also shed light on which conditions Science might also shed light on which conditions and characteristics of the present creation we do and characteristics of the present creation we do notnot expect to be continued into the new creation, expect to be continued into the new creation, i.e., the “elements of discontinuity” between i.e., the “elements of discontinuity” between creation and new creation. creation and new creation.


Guideline 6: Continuity within Guideline 6: Continuity within discontinuity: inverting the discontinuity: inverting the

relationship.relationship.

So far in theology and science, discontinuity has So far in theology and science, discontinuity has played a secondary role within the underlying played a secondary role within the underlying theme of continuity in nature as suggested by the theme of continuity in nature as suggested by the term “emergence”. term “emergence”.

Now I propose we ‘invert’ the relation: the Now I propose we ‘invert’ the relation: the elements of ‘continuity’ will be present, but elements of ‘continuity’ will be present, but within a more radical and underlying within a more radical and underlying ‘discontinuity’ as is denoted by the ‘discontinuity’ as is denoted by the transformation transformation of the universe by a new act of of the universe by a new act of God. God.


Guideline 6: Continuity within Guideline 6: Continuity within discontinuity: inverting the discontinuity: inverting the

relationship.relationship.

Discontinuity as fundamental signals the Discontinuity as fundamental signals the break with naturalistic and reductionistic break with naturalistic and reductionistic views such as “physical eschatology.”views such as “physical eschatology.”

Continuity, even if secondary, eliminates a Continuity, even if secondary, eliminates a “two-worlds” eschatology.“two-worlds” eschatology.

Transformation Transformation eliminateseliminates ‘non- ‘non-interventionist objective special divine interventionist objective special divine action’ since this works with the present action’ since this works with the present laws of nataure intact.laws of nataure intact.


Summarizing so far…Summarizing so far…

An eschatology of new creation as the An eschatology of new creation as the transformation of the old creation parts transformation of the old creation parts company with:company with:

Intelligent Design Intelligent Design (which challenges methodological naturalism)(which challenges methodological naturalism)

Physical eschatology Physical eschatology (which accepts reductionist metaphysical (which accepts reductionist metaphysical

naturalism)naturalism) Two worlds eschatology Two worlds eschatology

(which overlooks the element of continuity in the (which overlooks the element of continuity in the Resurrection)Resurrection)

Non-interventionist objective divine action Non-interventionist objective divine action (presupposes the laws of nature as they are)(presupposes the laws of nature as they are)

Copyright R. J. Russell 2005 20

Guideline 7: Theological reconceptualization of nature in light of philosophical and scientific revisions.

A richer theological conception of nature both as creation and as new creation might generate important revisions in the philosophy of nature that currently underlies the natural sciences.

The doctrine of creation bequeathed to the West the assumption that the universe is contingent and rational, and this formed the foundation for the methodology of science --- empiricism, methodological naturalism.

Its additional assumptions that the universe is good, purposeful, and that it includes ‘heaven and earth,’ were not taken up into scientific methodology. Perhaps they should be…


Guideline 8: Theology as suggesting criteria of theory

choice between existing theories. The theological views of research scientists might play a role in selecting which theoretical programs to pursue among those already ‘on the table.’

E.g., the variety of approaches to quantum gravity and quantum cosmology.

For example, Hawking rejected Penrose’s ‘quantum fluctuations’ model of the creation of the universe by explicit analogy with Augustine’s rejecting God creating in time.

Hawking chose the ‘no boundary’ model of the creation of the universe in analogy with Augustine’s model of God creating time.


Guideline 9: Theology as suggesting new scientific research programs

A revised eschatology might suggest new directions in the construction of scientific research programs whose motivation stems, at least in part, from theological interests.

Frey Hoyle, as an outspoken atheist cosmologist, created the ‘steady state’ cosmology, in which the universe has no beginning in time, to challenge the reigning Big Bang cosmology with its “t=0” in part because of the support for God as the Creator drawn from “t=0”

Many of the developments in the construction of quantum theory (1900-1930) reflect the philosophical and theological presuppositions of their proponents, e.g., Einstein, Bohr, Schroedinger, Planck, Heisenberg, etc..


Theology and Science in

Creative Mutual Interaction

• A. SRP –> TRP: RECONSTRUCTING CHRISTIAN ESCHATOLOGY AS ‘TRANSFORMATION OF THE UNIVERSE’

• B. TRP SRP: POTENTIAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN SCIENCE IN LIGHT OF (RECONSTRUCTED) ESCHATOLOGY


SRP SRP TRP: Insights from evolution TRP: Insights from evolution regarding theodicy for eschatologyregarding theodicy for eschatology

From Augustine’s theodicyFrom Augustine’s theodicy

If in the new creation it will not be possible to If in the new creation it will not be possible to sinsin

In the new creation thermodynamic In the new creation thermodynamic processes will not occur (in so far as they processes will not occur (in so far as they entail natural evil)entail natural evil)


TRP TRP SRP: Insights from eschatology for SRP: Insights from eschatology for thermodynamicsthermodynamics

From Augustine’s theodicyFrom Augustine’s theodicy

Thermodynamics as a “universal contingent” Thermodynamics as a “universal contingent” is itself a contingent characteristic of is itself a contingent characteristic of creation (the universe)creation (the universe)

Research topic in physics: Is Research topic in physics: Is thermodynamics a fundamental theory like thermodynamics a fundamental theory like quantum mechanics? How are general quantum mechanics? How are general relativity and thermodynamics related?relativity and thermodynamics related?


SRP SRP TRP: Insights from evolution TRP: Insights from evolution regarding theodicy for eschatologyregarding theodicy for eschatology

From the Schleiermacher/Hick theodicyFrom the Schleiermacher/Hick theodicy

Pre-human life must not be a ‘means/end’ to Pre-human life must not be a ‘means/end’ to humankind humankind each creature / species has each creature / species has an eschatological future of its own an eschatological future of its own


TRP TRP SRP: Insights from eschatology for SRP: Insights from eschatology for physicsphysics

From the Schleiermacher/Hick theodicyFrom the Schleiermacher/Hick theodicy

Every moment of time is ‘connected’ to both Every moment of time is ‘connected’ to both its ordinary physical future moment and to its its ordinary physical future moment and to its eschatological fulfillmenteschatological fulfillment

Research topic in physics: Is time more Research topic in physics: Is time more complex (e.g., multidimensional, complex (e.g., multidimensional, topologically connected) than is normally topologically connected) than is normally assumed in physics and cosmology?assumed in physics and cosmology?


SRP SRP TRP: Eschatology reformulated in light of TRP: Eschatology reformulated in light of time in physicstime in physics

• First, the ‘theological ‘consensus’: Eternity is a richer concept of temporality than timelessness or unending time. In essence, eternity is the source of time as we know it, and of time as we will know it in the new creation. Eternity is the fully temporal source and goal of time.

• Karl Barth calls it ‘supratemporal.’

• Jurgen Moltmann calls it ‘the future of the future.’

• Ted Peters refers to the future as coming to us (adventus) and not merely that which tomorrow brings (futurum).

• Wolfhart Pannenberg claims that God acts from eternity by reaching back into time to redeem the world, particularly in the Resurrection of Jesus (“prolepsis”).



• From the ‘theological consensus’, five themes emerge:

• ‘flowing time’ : each event has a “past/present/future structure” leading to an “inhomogeneous temporal ontology”

• duration: each event has temporal thickness in nature as well as in experience; events are not point-like present moments lacking an intrinsic temporal structure

• co-presence of all events: distinct events in time are nevertheless present to one another without destroying or subsuming their distinctiveness

• global future: there is a single global future for all of creation so that all creatures can be in community.

• prolepsis: the future is already present and active in the present while remaining future, as exemplified by God’s act in raising Jesus



Next, reformulate each of these themes in light of the way physics interprets time. Areas in physics include:

– special relativity– general relativity– quantum mechanics– relativistic quantum mechanics– quantum field theory– thermodynamics


TRP SRP: SUGGESTIONS FOR RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN SCIENCE

• 1) Which of these themes --- duration, flowing time, co-presence, prolepsis, global future --- are already present in creation and thus are elements of continuity in its transformation into the new creation?

• 2) Which themes are not yet present in creation but instead represent elements of discontinuity, emerging only in the new creation?

• 3) And regarding the latter, does the universe at present include the preconditions for the possibility of their coming to be in the new creation?


TRP TRP SRP: Five potential SRPs drawn from the SRP: Five potential SRPs drawn from the themes of “themes of “flowing timeflowing time” and “” and “durationduration””

• SRP 1: Can we construct a new interpretation of special relativity which is consistent with “flowing time” but which avoids these problems?

• SRP 2: Can we revise special relativity to support a “flowing time” interpretation over a “block universe” interpretation?


TRP TRP SRP: Five potential SRPs drawn from SRP: Five potential SRPs drawn from ““flowing timeflowing time” and “” and “durationduration””

• SRP 3: Can we construct a new and more competitive interpretation of quantum mechanics which more definitively supports “flowing time.”

• SRP 4: Can we modify the formalism of quantum mechanics which support “flowing time”, such as non-linear or stochastic versions of the Schrödinger equation.

• SRP5: One might search for mathematical ways to represent time as duration, such as set theory or quantized time, and then by exploring their implications for research physics


Conclusions:Conclusions:

Creative mutual interaction: a project underway with a long Creative mutual interaction: a project underway with a long road ahead…road ahead…

1 copyright r. j. russell 2005 theology from creation to new creation overview

Documents

resurrection of christ

resurrection of jesus

earth eschatology

earth moral evil eschatology

general resurrection

fry slide

risen jesus

eternal life slide