Now the archon who is weak has three names. The first name is Yaldabaoth, the second is Saklas, and the third is Samael. And he is impious in his arrogance which is in him. For he said, 'I am God and there is no other God beside me,' for he is ignorant of his strength, the place from which he had come.
Great article. I especially liked your refutation of the idea that God could’ve created our world otherwise than it is now. The whole idea of God “could have” done this or that is as I understand it an exercise in futility and nihilistic speculation. I have heard even Orthodox people say that God could’ve chosen someone other than Mary to be His Son’s Mother, but as Fr. Josiah Trenham once said, “Without Mary, the incarnation wouldn’t have happened and salvation would be impossible” (paraphrasing).
Though I have to ask: What does that mean for free will? Why are we still responsible for our sins and our falls if it is simply the condition in which we are created? Why are we to repent? Why are we even being called to become gods, as it were?
I am not a theologician, so, I cannot deal with all the theological issues you are analizing in the essay. But I can comment on the following part of the essay:
"God's activity is always eternally realised for Himself. ... Thus, creating is an eternal action for God, as are all His acts, because He is eternal."
What do you mean by the above words "ALWAYS eternally"? Put differently, what do you mean by 'eternity', infinite time or timelessness? As I understand, when talking about God's eternity, we should mean timelessness, and this is another story.
I get sad when I see that people reject divine truth. I understand it's extremely complicated.
Great article. I especially liked your refutation of the idea that God could’ve created our world otherwise than it is now. The whole idea of God “could have” done this or that is as I understand it an exercise in futility and nihilistic speculation. I have heard even Orthodox people say that God could’ve chosen someone other than Mary to be His Son’s Mother, but as Fr. Josiah Trenham once said, “Without Mary, the incarnation wouldn’t have happened and salvation would be impossible” (paraphrasing).
Though I have to ask: What does that mean for free will? Why are we still responsible for our sins and our falls if it is simply the condition in which we are created? Why are we to repent? Why are we even being called to become gods, as it were?
Hello
I am not a theologician, so, I cannot deal with all the theological issues you are analizing in the essay. But I can comment on the following part of the essay:
"God's activity is always eternally realised for Himself. ... Thus, creating is an eternal action for God, as are all His acts, because He is eternal."
What do you mean by the above words "ALWAYS eternally"? Put differently, what do you mean by 'eternity', infinite time or timelessness? As I understand, when talking about God's eternity, we should mean timelessness, and this is another story.
I get sad when I see that people reject divine truth. I understand it's extremely complicated.