God After Darwin 4. Evolution and a Metaphysics of the Future August 13, 2006 9 to 9:50 am in the...

God After DarwinGod After Darwin4. Evolution and a 4. Evolution and a Metaphysics of the Metaphysics of the

FutureFuture

August 13, 20069 to 9:50 am in the Parlor

All are welcome!

Almighty and everlasting God, you Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.our Lord.

Book of Common Prayer, p. 827Book of Common Prayer, p. 827

God After God After Darwin. A Darwin. A Theology of Theology of Evolution.Evolution. John F. Haught, John F. Haught, Westview Westview Press, 2000. Press, 2000. ISBN 0-8133-ISBN 0-8133-3878-63878-6Background image on the PowerPoint slides is taken from the cover art of God After Darwin

Responses to Responses to 101 Questions 101 Questions on God and on God and Evolution.Evolution.

John F. Haught, John F. Haught, Paulist Press, Paulist Press, 2001. ISBN 0-2001. ISBN 0-8091-3989-88091-3989-8

John F. HaughtJohn F. Haught is the Landegger is the Landegger Distinguished Distinguished Professor of Professor of Theology at Theology at Georgetown Georgetown University, and University, and Director of the Director of the Georgetown Georgetown Center for the Center for the Study of Science Study of Science and Religion.and Religion.Photos captured from the on-line interview

with Dr. Haught at: http://MeaningOfLife.tv

ReviewReview

ReviewReviewWhat Evolution Tells UsWhat Evolution Tells Us

The modern theory of evolution (= the The modern theory of evolution (= the “neo-“neo-Darwinian SynthesisDarwinian Synthesis”) says that the great diversity ”) says that the great diversity of life can be of life can be naturallynaturally explained by the combination explained by the combination of of chancechance, , lawlaw, and , and deep timedeep time:: 1. 1. Chance:Chance: accidental, chance events or contingencies: accidental, chance events or contingencies:

• a genetic mutation that lead to new characteristics in an organisma genetic mutation that lead to new characteristics in an organism• a natural disaster that changes the environment that an organism a natural disaster that changes the environment that an organism

must adapt tomust adapt to 2. 2. Law:Law: the deterministic laws of the deterministic laws of natural selection natural selection

(natures “selects” as survivors organism who best adapt to (natures “selects” as survivors organism who best adapt to the environment; all others perish),the environment; all others perish), chemistry, and physicschemistry, and physics

3. 3. Deep Time:Deep Time: enormous depths of time enormous depths of time


Evolution tells us human beings are the result Evolution tells us human beings are the result of billions of years of a meandering, haphazard of billions of years of a meandering, haphazard process of “process of “natural selectionnatural selection,” a journey ,” a journey marked by untold pain and suffering, loss, marked by untold pain and suffering, loss, waste, and in the end, extinction for most waste, and in the end, extinction for most species.species. More than 99% of all species born in the crucible More than 99% of all species born in the crucible

of evolution have died out under the relentless of evolution have died out under the relentless jackboot of natural selection.jackboot of natural selection.

ReviewReviewWhy Might God Create In Such a Way?Why Might God Create In Such a Way?

In our second session, we asked why In our second session, we asked why might God choose to create in such a might God choose to create in such a way?way?

Why might God create a world Why might God create a world characterized by the meandering, characterized by the meandering, wasteful, painful path of evolution?wasteful, painful path of evolution?

ReviewReviewWhy Might God Create In Such a Way?Why Might God Create In Such a Way?

We suggested that the answer lies in a We suggested that the answer lies in a fundamental, eternal characteristic of fundamental, eternal characteristic of God: God is God: God is self-emptying (=kenosis) self-emptying (=kenosis) suffering lovesuffering love..

ReviewReviewGod’s Self-Emptying LoveGod’s Self-Emptying Love

Love needs an Love needs an “Other”“Other” that is not oneself to love. that is not oneself to love. Without an “Other” who is Without an “Other” who is independent independent of oneself, of oneself, love cannot be actualized.love cannot be actualized.

God’s God’s self-emptying, self-giving loveself-emptying, self-giving love is manifest in: is manifest in: allowing creation to come into being allowing creation to come into being independentindependent of God’s of God’s

self – to be self – to be “Other”“Other” than God – and than God – and endowing that creation with the ability endowing that creation with the ability to evolveto evolve = = to be to be

“self-creative“self-creative and and self-orderingself-ordering (= (= autopoiesisautopoiesis).).

Such a universe is really the only kind of universe Such a universe is really the only kind of universe that could be the product of love – for love desires the that could be the product of love – for love desires the independenceindependence of the “Other.” of the “Other.”


Evolution also tells us that Evolution also tells us that all life comes all life comes from a common ancestor, from a common ancestor, which itself which itself arose fromarose from lifeless matter. lifeless matter.

Rather than having Rather than having our originour origin from an from an ineffable sacred source of all being and ineffable sacred source of all being and meaning, it seems that meaning, it seems that our originour origin, deep , deep in the past, is from the lowliest “level of in the past, is from the lowliest “level of being,” from being,” from mere mineral and liquidmere mineral and liquid..

ReviewReviewThe Collapse of Great Chain of BeingThe Collapse of Great Chain of Being

Last week we asked: Last week we asked: How then can we believe we are How then can we believe we are special, made in the “image and likeness of God”?special, made in the “image and likeness of God”?

Evolution seems to have “collapsed” – or even Evolution seems to have “collapsed” – or even “reversed” – the ““reversed” – the “Great Chain of BeingGreat Chain of Being”” GodGod AngelsAngels Human Beings, made in the “image and likeness” of GodHuman Beings, made in the “image and likeness” of God AnimalsAnimals PlantsPlants At the lowest “level” of being: inanimate things like At the lowest “level” of being: inanimate things like

minerals and liquidsminerals and liquids

ReviewReviewGod as the Source of “Information”God as the Source of “Information”

We suggested that we are still special, made in God’s We suggested that we are still special, made in God’s image and likeness, and the “how” might lie in image and likeness, and the “how” might lie in imagining imagining God as the ultimate source of the novel God as the ultimate source of the novel “informational patterns” available to evolution“informational patterns” available to evolution.. Why, after all, is there a hierarchy of order, structure, Why, after all, is there a hierarchy of order, structure,

arrangement, pattern, coherence, complexity – instead of arrangement, pattern, coherence, complexity – instead of simply an amorphous chaos? Why are there “things” simply an amorphous chaos? Why are there “things” instead of “no-things”?instead of “no-things”?

““Information”Information” = the pattern or the “recipe” for ordering = the pattern or the “recipe” for ordering of entities (atoms, molecules, cells, genes…) into a more of entities (atoms, molecules, cells, genes…) into a more complex form or arrangement.complex form or arrangement.

““Information”Information” is clearly a major part of nature – take is clearly a major part of nature – take away “Information,” and you dissolve ourselves, and away “Information,” and you dissolve ourselves, and everything else in the world, into an amorphous scattering everything else in the world, into an amorphous scattering of particles, into “no-thing”of particles, into “no-thing”

ReviewReviewGod as the Source of “Information”God as the Source of “Information”

As God allows the universe, “Other” than As God allows the universe, “Other” than God, to “be itself” and evolve, to be self-God, to “be itself” and evolve, to be self-creative, creative, GodGod is the is the sourcesource, the , the originorigin of of the possible “informational patterns”the possible “informational patterns” that that the universe actualizes as it evolves and the universe actualizes as it evolves and produces increasingly more complex produces increasingly more complex forms and structures – including life and forms and structures – including life and consciousness and ourselves.consciousness and ourselves.

TodayTodayToday we want to more fully explore the Today we want to more fully explore the

relationship between God and creation, relationship between God and creation, between:between: This universeThis universe, allowed by God out of self-, allowed by God out of self-

emptying love to “be itself,” to be “Other” emptying love to “be itself,” to be “Other” than God, to be self-creative and self-than God, to be self-creative and self-ordering; andordering; and

The “God of evolution,”The “God of evolution,” who showers the who showers the universe with love, and is its source of universe with love, and is its source of possibility and “information” as it evolvespossibility and “information” as it evolves

TodayToday Questions we will try to address:Questions we will try to address:

Is evolution a process going anywhere? Is there a Is evolution a process going anywhere? Is there a “direction” to evolution? And if there is a “direction” to evolution? And if there is a direction, direction, whywhy is there a direction? is there a direction?

How might we understand why the universe How might we understand why the universe “happens” to be blessed with just the right amount “happens” to be blessed with just the right amount of:of:

• ChanceChance and contingency and contingency• LawLaw, necessity, and regularity, necessity, and regularity• Deep Deep timetime

to allow evolution take place?to allow evolution take place? Why is God “hidden” to all the probing tools of Why is God “hidden” to all the probing tools of

science?science?

Teilhard de Teilhard de ChardinChardin

Teilhard de ChardinTeilhard de Chardin

The religious thinker who, more than any one The religious thinker who, more than any one else, has more deeply explored how evolution else, has more deeply explored how evolution should impact our views of God and creation should impact our views of God and creation is is Teilhard de ChardinTeilhard de Chardin (b. 1881, d. 1955) (b. 1881, d. 1955)

Many of the concepts we will discuss today Many of the concepts we will discuss today derive from de Chardin.derive from de Chardin.

De Chardin was a French Jesuit priest, De Chardin was a French Jesuit priest, ordained in 1911.ordained in 1911.

He was a scientist who worked in geology and He was a scientist who worked in geology and paleontology.paleontology.


During World War I, he worked as a stretcher-During World War I, he worked as a stretcher-bearer and won the Legion of Honor for his bearer and won the Legion of Honor for his courage in battle.courage in battle.

His more important work is His more important work is Le Phenonmene Le Phenonmene humainhumain (1955); translated (1955); translated The Human The Human PhenomenonPhenomenon.. Written in the 1920’s and 1930’s, his Jesuit Written in the 1920’s and 1930’s, his Jesuit

superiors forbade its publication, as well as his superiors forbade its publication, as well as his other writings on evolution and faith, until after his other writings on evolution and faith, until after his death.death.

After the war, he was sent to China to work on After the war, he was sent to China to work on geological expeditions.geological expeditions.


1946: returned to France, and his Jesuit 1946: returned to France, and his Jesuit superiors, again disturbed by the novelty of his superiors, again disturbed by the novelty of his ideas, denied him a teaching position that he ideas, denied him a teaching position that he sought at the College de Frances.sought at the College de Frances.

He moved then to the United States, He moved then to the United States, continuing his work in paleontology and continuing his work in paleontology and archaeology.archaeology.

He died in New York City on Easter Sunday, He died in New York City on Easter Sunday, 1955, largely unknown.1955, largely unknown.

The Direction of The Direction of EvolutionEvolution

The Direction of EvolutionThe Direction of Evolution

To de Chardin, and to many others, there To de Chardin, and to many others, there is a clear “direction” in evolution.is a clear “direction” in evolution.

The universe has clearly moved in a The universe has clearly moved in a direction of increasing organized direction of increasing organized complexitycomplexity Preatomic Preatomic atomic atomic molecular molecular

unicellular unicellular multicellular multicellular vertebrates vertebrates primate phases primate phases human beings and human beings and mindmind

The Direction of EvolutionThe Direction of Evolution

De Chardin identified the movement in De Chardin identified the movement in evolution of:evolution of: 1. Sphere of Matter (1. Sphere of Matter (GeosphereGeosphere) ) 2. Sphere of Life (2. Sphere of Life (BiosphereBiosphere) ) 3. Sphere of “Mind” (3. Sphere of “Mind” (NoosphereNoosphere))

God-Omega,God-Omega,God as God as

Absolute FutureAbsolute Future

God-OmegaGod-OmegaMetaphysicsMetaphysics

MetaphysicsMetaphysics = the general vision of = the general vision of reality one holds to be true.reality one holds to be true.

In our “personal metaphysics,” where do In our “personal metaphysics,” where do we imagine God to be in relation to the we imagine God to be in relation to the world?world?

We know that God is not trapped in space We know that God is not trapped in space and time.and time. St. Augustine: the world was made St. Augustine: the world was made with with

timetime, and not , and not in timein time..

God-OmegaGod-OmegaMetaphysics of the Eternally PresentMetaphysics of the Eternally Present

The predominant and traditional view in The predominant and traditional view in religious thought might be called a religious thought might be called a “metaphysics of “metaphysics of esseesse (= being)” (= being)”, or , or “metaphysics of the eternally present”“metaphysics of the eternally present”:: God resides in a God resides in a timeless presenttimeless present, “up , “up

above” usabove” us The The perfection of “being” has been already perfection of “being” has been already

realizedrealized, existing not here on Earth, but in , existing not here on Earth, but in the fixed divine realm, “above” creation, the fixed divine realm, “above” creation, untouched by time.untouched by time.

God-OmegaGod-OmegaMetaphysics of the Eternally PresentMetaphysics of the Eternally Present

One consequence of this One consequence of this traditional traditional “metaphysics of the eternally present”“metaphysics of the eternally present” is is that since the perfection of being already that since the perfection of being already exists “up above us,” everything that exists “up above us,” everything that happens in evolution is just more happens in evolution is just more “meaningless straying from a timeless “meaningless straying from a timeless perfection”perfection” There can be no meaningful “new creation,” There can be no meaningful “new creation,”

since the since the perfectionperfection of being of being already existsalready exists “above us.”“above us.”

God-OmegaGod-OmegaMetaphysics of the PastMetaphysics of the Past

Another “metaphysics” we can identify Another “metaphysics” we can identify might be called a “might be called a “metaphysics of the metaphysics of the pastpast”” The “metaphysics” of scientific materialists The “metaphysics” of scientific materialists

(like Daniel Dennett and Stanley Dawkins) (like Daniel Dennett and Stanley Dawkins) who say that everything that happens in who say that everything that happens in evolution has already been determined evolution has already been determined in in the pastthe past from the properties and initial from the properties and initial conditions of the quark soup of the Big conditions of the quark soup of the Big Bang.Bang.

God-OmegaGod-OmegaMetaphysics of the FutureMetaphysics of the Future

de Chardin felt that the traditional view of de Chardin felt that the traditional view of God and creation, the “metaphysics of the God and creation, the “metaphysics of the eternally present,” was eternally present,” was inadequateinadequate for the for the reality of evolution.reality of evolution. Evolution requires a divine source located Evolution requires a divine source located notnot in in

the past, or “up above” in a timeless present, but the past, or “up above” in a timeless present, but “up ahead,” in the future“up ahead,” in the future..

We should think of God as residing “in the future.”We should think of God as residing “in the future.” God is God is “the transcendent future horizon that “the transcendent future horizon that

draws an entire universe, and not just human draws an entire universe, and not just human history, toward an unfathomable fulfillment yet history, toward an unfathomable fulfillment yet to be realized.”to be realized.” (Haught) (Haught)


de Chardin said evolution requires that God de Chardin said evolution requires that God become for us “less Alpha than become for us “less Alpha than OmegaOmega.”.”

God, residing “up ahead,” in the future, is the God, residing “up ahead,” in the future, is the ultimate force of attraction (= ultimate force of attraction (= God-OmegaGod-Omega) ) for the universe, drawing the universe towards for the universe, drawing the universe towards intensification of complexity and new creation.intensification of complexity and new creation.

God, residing in the future (“God, residing in the future (“God-OmegaGod-Omega”), ”), lures the universe to God’s self, and this is the lures the universe to God’s self, and this is the ultimate reason there is evolution and a ultimate reason there is evolution and a direction to evolution.direction to evolution.


de Chardin’s de Chardin’s metaphysics of the futuremetaphysics of the future, of God , of God residing “up ahead,” in the future, of God as residing “up ahead,” in the future, of God as OmegaOmega, , is a concept echoed by many modern theologians:is a concept echoed by many modern theologians: The biblical view of God is that of a God of The biblical view of God is that of a God of promisepromise and and

hopehope. Or as German theologian Jurgen Motmann puts it, . Or as German theologian Jurgen Motmann puts it, the primary biblical view of God is the primary biblical view of God is “future”“future”

Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner, (considered by many the Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner, (considered by many the greatest Roman Catholic theologian of the 20greatest Roman Catholic theologian of the 20thth century) century) wrote of God as wrote of God as “Absolute Future.”“Absolute Future.”

Lutheran theologians Wolfhard Pannenberg and Ted Peters Lutheran theologians Wolfhard Pannenberg and Ted Peters write of God as the write of God as the “Power of the Future”“Power of the Future”


Haught admits this idea of God as residing “up Haught admits this idea of God as residing “up ahead,” in the future, is confusing, uncomfortable, ahead,” in the future, is confusing, uncomfortable, “hard to swallow.”“hard to swallow.” The future, after all, is not yet “real”The future, after all, is not yet “real” The past and present had or have “being.” But the future The past and present had or have “being.” But the future

does not yet “exist.” So how can God “exist” there?does not yet “exist.” So how can God “exist” there? The future is “that which is to come,” “the sphere of the The future is “that which is to come,” “the sphere of the

not-yet,” “not yet being”not-yet,” “not yet being” The problem, Haught suggests, is in part our The problem, Haught suggests, is in part our

passionate allegiance to the “explanatory primacy of passionate allegiance to the “explanatory primacy of the causal past” and our desire to box God into a the causal past” and our desire to box God into a similar causal chain – which we must abandon.similar causal chain – which we must abandon.


God is not trapped in space-time, but comes to usGod is not trapped in space-time, but comes to us from the “future,”from the “future,” from “the sphere of the not-yet,” of “not-yet-being,”from “the sphere of the not-yet,” of “not-yet-being,” from the “realm of possibility and potentiality,” from the “realm of possibility and potentiality,” from “that which might come / is to come”from “that which might come / is to come”

and God sustains the world continually at:and God sustains the world continually at: the cusp of where the future meets the present,the cusp of where the future meets the present, the threshold between “not-yet” and “now”the threshold between “not-yet” and “now”

where God offers to Creation possibility, novel informational where God offers to Creation possibility, novel informational patterns and orderings, as it evolves, self-creates and self-patterns and orderings, as it evolves, self-creates and self-orders itself, something “Other” than God;orders itself, something “Other” than God;

and God lures, persuades, but does not force Creation towards and God lures, persuades, but does not force Creation towards God’s vision of Creation’s fulfillment and completion.God’s vision of Creation’s fulfillment and completion.

God-OmegaGod-OmegaThe Hidden GodThe Hidden God

Science cannot detect God because God Science cannot detect God because God comes to us quietly comes to us quietly notnot from the causal from the causal past or present where science turns its past or present where science turns its gimlet eye, but gimlet eye, but from the futurefrom the future.. It is also a reflection of God’s “divine It is also a reflection of God’s “divine

humility, letting the universe “be itself,” be humility, letting the universe “be itself,” be “Other” than God, letting it be self-creative “Other” than God, letting it be self-creative and self-ordering without God being and self-ordering without God being domineering or “in your face.”domineering or “in your face.”

God-OmegaGod-OmegaThe Biblical God of Hope and PromiseThe Biblical God of Hope and Promise

This location of God in the future, a This location of God in the future, a “metaphysics of the future,” is a view that “metaphysics of the future,” is a view that resonates with the spirituality and resonates with the spirituality and intuition of how the biblical God of hope intuition of how the biblical God of hope and promise relates to the world.and promise relates to the world.

the the “very heart of authentic faith “very heart of authentic faith consists of the consists of the total orientation of total orientation of consciousness toward the coming of consciousness toward the coming of GodGod, the ultimately real”, the ultimately real” (Haught) (Haught)

God-OmegaGod-OmegaThe Biblical God of Hope and PromiseThe Biblical God of Hope and Promise

“…“…the most distinctive and precious the most distinctive and precious contribution of biblical religion to human contribution of biblical religion to human life and consciousness is its impression life and consciousness is its impression that that reality is shaped by promisereality is shaped by promise, a notion , a notion that naturally brings the horizon of futurity that naturally brings the horizon of futurity into view. By urging us to ‘wait upon the into view. By urging us to ‘wait upon the Lord,’ to live in trust and hope, the biblical Lord,’ to live in trust and hope, the biblical vision inevitably vision inevitably locates the fullness of locates the fullness of being in an arena that we can locate only being in an arena that we can locate only ‘up ahead’‘up ahead’ and not ‘up above’ in a timeless and not ‘up above’ in a timeless heaven of total perfection, nor behind us in heaven of total perfection, nor behind us in the fixed routines of past physical the fixed routines of past physical causation.”causation.” (Haught) (Haught)

Consequences Consequences of a of a

Metaphysics of Metaphysics of the Futurethe Future

ConsequencesConsequencesNew CreationNew Creation

One consequence of abandoning the traditional One consequence of abandoning the traditional “metaphysics of the eternally present” and its “metaphysics of the eternally present” and its view that the perfection of being already has view that the perfection of being already has been realized, is that the “new creation” been realized, is that the “new creation” occurring in evolution is truly “new,” occurring in evolution is truly “new,” enormously and profoundly meaningful for enormously and profoundly meaningful for both heaven and earth!both heaven and earth!

The perfection of being, the completion of The perfection of being, the completion of God’s vision for “being” and creation God’s vision for “being” and creation has not has not yet happenedyet happened, is still “in process,” – and we , is still “in process,” – and we are part of the process.are part of the process.

ConsequencesConsequencesChance, Law, Deep TimeChance, Law, Deep Time

A “metaphysics of the future” also helps A “metaphysics of the future” also helps account for the three qualities:account for the three qualities: ChanceChance LawLaw TimeTime

that are the “raw ingredients” of that are the “raw ingredients” of biological evolutionbiological evolution

ConsequencesConsequencesChanceChance

ChanceChance or or ContigencyContigency ““Chance” or “contigency:” Events that Chance” or “contigency:” Events that

appear biologicallyappear biologically as random, accidental, as random, accidental, or chance occurrences (such as genetic or chance occurrences (such as genetic mutations)mutations)

Theologically, such events are signals of Theologically, such events are signals of nature’s fundamental openness to nature’s fundamental openness to new new creationcreation..• If there were no such events, then nature’s If there were no such events, then nature’s

regularity and laws would freeze the cosmos regularity and laws would freeze the cosmos into an eternal sameness.into an eternal sameness.

ConsequencesConsequencesChanceChance

ChanceChance or or ContigencyContigency These events may not “in the fullness of reality,” These events may not “in the fullness of reality,”

be truly “accidental:”be truly “accidental:”• In a “metaphysics of the future,” creation is still on-In a “metaphysics of the future,” creation is still on-

going, and therefore “being” or “reality” is still “under going, and therefore “being” or “reality” is still “under construction.”construction.”

• In such an unfinished world, some things that may now In such an unfinished world, some things that may now appear unintelligible (and hence termed “accidental,” or appear unintelligible (and hence termed “accidental,” or “random”), will ultimately, as creation nears “random”), will ultimately, as creation nears completion, become intelligible, and no longer appear completion, become intelligible, and no longer appear “accidental” or as products of “chance.”“accidental” or as products of “chance.”

ConsequencesConsequencesLawLaw

LawfulnessLawfulness Some degree of regularity or “lawfulness” – Some degree of regularity or “lawfulness” –

such as evolution’s “law of natural such as evolution’s “law of natural selection” or the law of physics – is selection” or the law of physics – is necessarynecessary for the emergence of novelty, for for the emergence of novelty, for “new creation” and “new being.”“new creation” and “new being.”• If there was no regularity, no order at all, then If there was no regularity, no order at all, then

there would be nothing “definite” or “durable” there would be nothing “definite” or “durable” enough to be transformed or changed!enough to be transformed or changed!

ConsequencesConsequencesLawLaw

LawfulnessLawfulness ““A world open to the future without also A world open to the future without also

possessing the reliability of lawful possessing the reliability of lawful ‘necessity’ would be as unimaginable as ‘necessity’ would be as unimaginable as one devoid of contingency. Nature's one devoid of contingency. Nature's lawfulness and predictability are needed lawfulness and predictability are needed to keep natural processes continuous to keep natural processes continuous enough to avoid decaying into utter enough to avoid decaying into utter caprice.”caprice.” (Haught) (Haught)

ConsequencesConsequencesTimeTime

Deep TimeDeep Time Evolution’s need for irreversible time is also Evolution’s need for irreversible time is also

given, Haught feels, its most satisfying explanation given, Haught feels, its most satisfying explanation by a “metaphysics of the future.”by a “metaphysics of the future.”

The “arrival of the future” is what allows each The “arrival of the future” is what allows each present moment to sink into a fixed past, and allow present moment to sink into a fixed past, and allow new moments to take its place.new moments to take its place.

God, meeting creation from the future, at the cusp God, meeting creation from the future, at the cusp of “now” and “not-yet,” gives an open universe of “now” and “not-yet,” gives an open universe possibilities to actualize. The past is the “residue” possibilities to actualize. The past is the “residue” of universe’s “actualizations” from that realm of of universe’s “actualizations” from that realm of future possibility and potentiality wherein resides future possibility and potentiality wherein resides God.God.

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