The eternity of the world and the distinction between creation and conservation
According to an important set of medieval arguments, it is impossible to make a distinction between creation and conservation on the assumption of a beginningless universe. The argument is that, on such an assumption, either God is never causally sufficient for the existence of the universe, or, if...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Cambridge Univ. Press
2006
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| In: |
Religious studies
Year: 2006, Volume: 42, Issue: 4, Pages: 403-416 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
God
/ Creation
/ Causality
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| RelBib Classification: | AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism NBC Doctrine of God NBD Doctrine of Creation |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | According to an important set of medieval arguments, it is impossible to make a distinction between creation and conservation on the assumption of a beginningless universe. The argument is that, on such an assumption, either God is never causally sufficient for the existence of the universe, or, if He is at one time causally sufficient for the existence of the universe, He is at all times causally sufficient for the universe, and occasionalism is true. I defend the claim that these arguments are successful. Since Christian theology requires a distinction between creation and conservation, arguments in favour of the possible eternity of the world fail. |
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| ISSN: | 0034-4125 |
| Contains: | In: Religious studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1017/S0034412506008572 |