Models of God as Creator mindmap
- Created by: Nadine Doyle
- Created on: 20-04-17 12:56
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- Models of God as Creator
- Construction
- The Bible portrays God as a master builder, e.g. Psalm 127:1 - powerful imagery - conveys the idea of purpose, planning & deliberate intention to create, drawing attention to the creator AND creation
- Weakness: However, links to Plato's Timaeus - portrays creation as pre-existent matter, with creation giving shape to something which is already there
- Weakness: Image of a builder would imply assembly of the world with pre-existing material - raises the question of where that material comes from & is at direct odds with 'creation ex-niliho'
- Despite the weaknesses, this model expresses the insight that the character of the creator IS shown in the natural (created) world
- Emanation
- Dominating imagery of light/heat emanating from the sun or from a human source, e.g. fire
- Not used by Plato, but linked to his insights by others
- Nicean creed 'light from light' -> image of creation suggests creation of an overflowing of the creative energy from God
- Used by early Christian writers to clarify relationship between God & the world
- Created order derives from God & expresses the divine nature - therefore a natural or organic connection between God & creation
- Weakness: Impersonal nature of this model - problems with language being inadequate & difficult to convey the idea of a personal God, shown through the act of creation & in creation - the beauty, identity & nature of God are expected to be reflected in (the nature of) creation
- Weakness: However the sun radiating light/heat implies involuntary emanation rather than a conscious decision to create, which is NOT what Christian tradition implies. Christian tradition implies a prior decision by God to create
- Artistic Expression
- "Handiwork of God" spoken & written about throughout the ages -> notion of 'ordering' clearly affirmed in this model. Especially significant in the OT creation narratives (Gen. 1-3)
- Weakness: This model could easily lead to the idea of creation from pre-existent matter
- However...
- Natural link between concept of creation as 'artistic expression' & the highly significant concept of beauty
- Gives added theological credibility to a natural theology
- Encourages humanity to seek the self expression of God in creation
- Allows possibility to think about creation 'ex niliho'
- However...
- Image of 'handiwork of God' is profoundly helpful as it supplements a deficiency within the other two models - namely, their impersonal character.
- Compares creation to a beautiful work of art that expresses the beauty of the artwork of & within itself => conveying the idea of personal expression in the creation of something beautiful
- Construction
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