Eternity (OCR A-Level Religious Studies): Revision Notes

Eternity

Philosophers disagree as to whether God is eternal or everlasting.

Everlasting: God exists within time

Eternal: God exists outside of time

If God is Everlasting:

• If God exists within time, He is everlasting, meaning He has always existed since the beginning of time and will continue to exist forever. This view places God within the temporal sequence, experiencing moments one after another.

If God is Eternal:

• If God exists outside of time, He is eternal, meaning He has no beginning or end. Concepts of past, present, and future do not apply to Him. Instead, all moments are equally present to God, who experiences them in a timeless 'now'.

Boethius' Circle Analogy:

• Boethius described time as a circle where humans travel along the circumference, experiencing time sequentially (one moment after another).
• In contrast, God is at the centre of the circle, experiencing all points in the circle simultaneously.
• This analogy helps illustrate how God perceives all of time at once, unlike humans who are bound by the linear progression of time.

Stump and Kretzmann's Simultaneity:

• T-simultaneity (Temporal Simultaneity): This type of simultaneity applies to beings within time, like humans. It means perceiving two events happening at the same time in the present moment.
• E-simultaneity (Eternal Simultaneity): This concept pertains to beings existing outside of time, such as God. It refers to the ability to perceive numerous events occurring at the same time from an eternal present perspective. God observes all moments—past, present, and future—simultaneously, unrestricted by the linear flow of time.

Implications of eternity:

• Understanding God as eternal affects other divine attributes, such as immutability (unchangeableness). If God exists outside of time, he remains unchanged, as change necessitates the passage of time.

Eternity and Mortality:

• The concept of eternity also impacts human views on mortality and the afterlife. If God is eternal, eternal life might mean existing with God outside of time after death, providing a different perspective on life beyond death.

Critiques of Eternity

• Some critics challenge the coherence of God's eternity. They question how an eternal and unchanging God can respond to different situations or prayers, raising issues about God's capacity to experience feelings and omnibenevolence.