Theodicy Soteriology, Hermeneutics

A Mechanistic Model of God and Universe
SOTERIOLOGY : M. M. NINAN
Essentially the idea of a sovereign God and a Predestined cosmos is the product of the
Newtonian Era - of the mechanical model of the universe.
In this model, God has created everything and built into it all the laws so that it will go
according to his predetermined way. Cosmos is like a mechanical clock - a clever contraption
of an ingenious God. This concept has been boosted by the theory of relativity which is
considered as the end point of Classical Physics. In relativity we get the four dimensional
space-time continuum. This is the result of the finiteness of the velocity of light. Here all
events are points in a four dimensional world. It lies on a four dimensional graph paper. So to
an Omnipotent God all future events lie as though it is done and over. But there were
scientific glitches. A being which can travel on the beam of light will remain unchanged
because there is no variation in time. But everything he observes also remain unchanged. If
one can travel with a speed greater than light one can go back in time. But no material body
can travel with speed greater than light. Even at the speed of light the mass becomes infinite
and volume zero. So we have reached a singularity point. But a non material body – a spirit
– may be able to do that. Thus going back into past will be in a different branch of the
cosmos. Hence it is impossible to change the past events. This is essential if the principle of
causality is to remain. If this causality principle is violated, the very foundation of science and
religion falls out. So the past is ever present – if we know how to read it. But there is no
condition under which even a spirit or non material body can travel to future. This is simply
because future do not exist.
If God is defined in the way Calvinist define including that there is nothing impossible for
God, all the things mentioned in the beginning are certainly true, - provided the same logic is
inapplicable to God - because then they are predetermined precisely. For anyone in the four
dimensional world constrained within the constancy of light signal, there is no way of knowing
the future. The supposition made here is that God being omnipotent can do so.
Even though there had been science fiction on time travel to future, the theory of relativity
would not permit it. It might be possible if the dimensions are increased. The essential
concept behind this thought is that the events have already been taken place at least in the
mind of God. This will essentially leave the argument closed. Though future is present as in a
seedling - a potential fact, future does not exist. There can be possible foreknowledge of the
future based on the present. Foreknowledge is based on past and assuming direct cause
effect relationship. Under exactly similar conditions exactly same things will occur. But giver
variations in situations we should expect variations in the result. Thus foreknowledge really
cannot be a fact since the variation in time itself may be become a factor. This is how
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