An interesting discussion. I hope no one minds if I join in.
"Since God by definition is eternal..."
I would say that God, in order to be God, would have to "exist" outside of (as in not dependent upon nor derived from) the space-time continuum.
"Eternal" is a word about time. "Eternal" is not external to time -- it has no meaning if there is no time. Whereas, God, in order to be God, would have to be self-sufficient with or without time. Otherwise you have a god who is derived from what already is and who therefore could not be external to both space and time. The best one could hope for from such a god would be that he or she would be long-lived and superman- or superwoman-like. At the most a cross (pun not intended) between Jupiter, Mars and Q. Not very satisfactory, IMHO.
IMHO "Eternal" is insufficient to be accurate, although it errs in the right direction. Especially when one considers that in Christian terms, a human being can attain "eternal life" (John 3:15)(That's right, I meant verse 15. Verse 16 says "everlasting life").
How can one using a Christian frame of reference say that God is "Eternal" when the same can be said of believers? No, the term is insufficient.
A god, in order to be God, must be god-like. If there is God, it is we who are made in His image, not He in ours.
PCM |
