QUESTION For fellow blogger; Matt,
I will ask a brief question that puzzles me about “eternity”.
When does eternity begin?
Does it start with me?
Did eternity start with my grandparents?
Did it start with the first day of creation?
The problem I have with the concept of eternity, is that there was a time, when I was not, so, in that time that preceded me, eternity did not exist for me.
But, when I became, it was at this moment that eternity started for me.
And, presumably, it is also at this point in time, that the infinity of eternity begins, for D.S. Martin.
Yet…, eternity literally means infinity, i.e. eternity is without beginning and without end.
It is a paradox for a finite being such as I am, to even contemplate eternity.
What can I do with that portion of eternity, which extends into a region where I do not exist?
And then, as a disciple of Jesus, for me to say in my heart that I shall one day take-part in that portion of eternity that extends into a region where I do not exist.I will live eternally? Yes! But, how?
(I am still pondering this and will likely add to it soon.)
When does eternity begin?
Does it start with me?
Did eternity start with my grandparents?
Did it start with the first day of creation?
The problem I have with the concept of eternity, is that there was a time, when I was not, so, in that time that preceded me, eternity did not exist for me.
But, when I became, it was at this moment that eternity started for me.
And, presumably, it is also at this point in time, that the infinity of eternity begins, for D.S. Martin.
Yet…, eternity literally means infinity, i.e. eternity is without beginning and without end.
It is a paradox for a finite being such as I am, to even contemplate eternity.
What can I do with that portion of eternity, which extends into a region where I do not exist?
And then, as a disciple of Jesus, for me to say in my heart that I shall one day take-part in that portion of eternity that extends into a region where I do not exist.I will live eternally? Yes! But, how?
(I am still pondering this and will likely add to it soon.)
God bless,
DSM p.s. Does Jeremiah 1:4-5 help to figure out this puzzle?
4 The Lord gave me a message. He said, 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”
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This entry was posted on Sunday, February 4th, 2007 at 8:35 am and is filed under Knowledge, Paradox, Reason, philosophy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
D.S.,
Hey, thanks for the plug. I’ve been trying to form a response but my own views have shocked me into writing and re-writing the post. I want to state it right or not at all so it’s been challenging. But, I think I’ll have something by the end of the day (my day being Tokyo time).
God bless,
-Matt
Matt,
Don’t worry about not having a quick answer.
As I’ve posted in my profile, I don’t like ‘shooting from the hip’ either, when philosophy is discussed.
Also, as discussion goes, we cannot be right all of the time. I have changed my view on some pretty BIG things, as they relate to theology, just in the past year. The most substantial “Weltanschauung” revisions are highlighted on this blog.
Look at the post where I spoke about Mere Discipleship; Radical Christianity In A Rebellious World. It was really the final straw in a paradigm shift for me. (http://theologyofnuance.blogspot.com/2006/10/on-mere-discipleship-lee-camp.html)
We do have culpability for the things we teach about Christ.
But, most of what we do on blogs is not teaching, but rather, it is learning. And, we are always wise to consider the caveat posted on the front page here.
Anyway, the question that I asked is not an easy one to contemplate, so don’t expect that your views today, will be the same in a year.
God bless,
DSM