Divine omnipresence and human suffering
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Date
Authors
Antombikums, Aku Stephen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Brill Academic Publishers
Abstract
Traditionally, it is believed that God is all-powerful and omnipresent. Given the notion of divine omnipresence, why does it seem like God is absent amidst suffering? This paper presents a philosophical and theological analysis of God’s omnipresence. I hope to show how we may construe a robust and viable doctrine of divine omnipresence amidst suffering. I argue that although God’s presence results in divine action, given that divine action is mostly experienced in a relational, covenantal context, his presence does not always lead to the absence of suffering. Although God is ontologically and maximally omnipresent, he is specially and covenantally present only with those who are open to a relationship with him. His presence with worshippers can be both interventional and noninterventional. In the former, he might remove suffering; in the latter, only inner peace and comfort might be experienced.
Description
Keywords
Divine omnipresence, Immateriality, Intensity, Relationship, Suffering, Interventional divine activity, Noninterventional divine activity
Sustainable Development Goals
None
Citation
Antombikums, A. S. (2024). Divine Omnipresence and Human Suffering. Philosophia Reformata, 89(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1163/23528230-bja10078.