From The Doctrines For Spiritual Christianity
The reason why the infinity of God predicated of space is called immensity, is that the term ‘immense’ is used of what is great and large, and also what is extensive and in this respect spacious. But the reason why the infinity of God predicated of time is called eternity is that ‘for eternity’ is used of progressive stages, which are measured by time, without end. For example: the globe with its land and sea surfaces is in itself what enables objects to be regarded as spatial; and its rotation and motion in orbit is what enables them to be regarded as temporal. These movements create periods of time and the surface of the globe creates distances, and they are so perceived through the senses in the minds of those that reflect on them. But as shown above, there is no space or time in God, yet space and time begin from Him. Hence it follows that immensity means His infinity predicated of space, and eternity His infinity predicated of time.
The angels in heaven understand by the immensity of God the Divinity as to Its Being (Esse), and by His eternity the Divinity as to Its Coming-into-Being (Existere); also by immensity they understand the Divinity as to Love and by eternity the Divinity as to Wisdom. This is because the angels banish space and time from their ideas of the Divinity, and this is the result. But because human beings are incapable of thinking except by means of ideas formed from spatial and temporal concepts, they cannot form any idea of the immensity of God before space existed or His eternity before time existed. In fact, when the human mind wishes to form such an idea, it is as if it lapsed into unconsciousness, almost like a shipwrecked mariner who has fallen into the water, or someone swallowed up by the earth in an earthquake. Indeed, if the mind persists in the attempt to penetrate these mysteries, it can easily become deranged, and thus be led to deny the existence of God.
I too was once in a state like this, when I was thinking what God did from eternity, or before the world was made: did He deliberate about creation and work out the order to be followed? was deliberative thought possible in a total vacuum? and other useless speculations. But to prevent me becoming deranged by such speculations, I was lifted up by the Lord into the sphere and light enjoyed by the interior angels; and when the idea of space and time which had previously restricted my thinking was there to a small extent removed, I was allowed to grasp that the eternity of God is not an eternity of time, and that because time did not exist before the creation of the world it was quite useless to engage in such speculations about God. (True Christian Religion 31{2&3})
People know that God is infinite, because He is called infinite; but He is called infinite because He is infinite. He is infinite not only for the reason that He is being and expression itself in itself, but because He has infinite elements in Him. An infinite entity without infinite elements in it is not infinite except in name only. The infinite elements in God cannot be said to be infinitely many or even to be infinitely all, because of people’s natural idea of “many” and “all.” For a natural idea of “infinitely many” is limited, and the idea of “infinitely all,” while being indeed unlimited, still draws its origin from the limited elements in the universe. Consequently, because people have a natural idea of these, they cannot by extrapolation or estimation arrive at a perception of the infinite elements in God. On the other hand, because angels have a spiritual idea of them, they can by extrapolation and estimation arrive at a perception of them beyond the level attainable by people, though still not reaching the goal. (Divine Love and Wisdom 17)
Key Points From The Video
Divine Absence of Space: Spiritual Christianity posits that God exists without spatial extension, meaning God does not occupy space or have physical magnitude.
Reconceptualising Immensity: God’s immensity is understood not in terms of spatial magnitude but as the absence of space and the ultimate cause of space itself.
Divine Perfection Beyond Measurement: God’s perfection transcends any spatial measurements, emphasizing that His nature cannot be quantified or confined by space.
Cause of Space: God is the inmost cause of space, implying that while space originates from Him, He remains unbounded by spatial attributes.
Transcendence and Incomprehensibility: This understanding preserves the idea that God’s immensity reflects His supreme nature, which remains beyond the finite constraints of space and time.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. How does Spiritual Christianity describe God’s relationship to space?
a) God occupies infinite space.
b) God is extended in a unique form of space.
c) God does not occupy space or have spatial magnitude.
d) God is contained within the boundaries of the universe.
Answer: c)
2. What does Divine immensity signify in Spiritual Christianity’s theology?
a) The vast physical size of God.
b) The measurement of God’s physical extension.
c) The infinite number of spaces God can occupy.
d) God’s nature as free from spatial extension and as the cause of space.
Answer: d)
3. Why can God’s perfection not be measured by spatial attributes according to Spiritual Christianity?
a) Because God is larger than the universe.
b) Because God is beyond any form of spatial measurement.
c) Because God changes size according to need.
d) Because spatial attributes are irrelevant to theology.
Answer: b)
4. In what way is God the cause of space, as per Spiritual Christianity’s explanation?
a) God occupies a special kind of Divine space.
b) Space exists independently, and God shapes it.
c) God is the inmost cause from which space originates but is not defined by it.
d) God fills all space with His essence.
Answer: c)
5. How does Spiritual Christianity’s concept of immensity preserve the incomprehensibility of the Divine?
a) By asserting that God’s immensity reflects His boundless nature, free from spatial constraints.
b) By relating God to familiar spatial concepts.
c) By explaining God’s physical dimensions.
d) By suggesting that God can be partially understood through spatial analogy.
Answer: a)
Reflective Questions
1. How does the idea of God’s immensity as devoid of spatial extension influence your understanding of Divine attributes?
• Reflect on how this concept changes or reinforces your perception of God’s nature and presence.
2. What are the implications of viewing God as the cause of space but not confined by it, in terms of how you approach spiritual concepts?
• Consider how this might affect your approach to prayer, meditation, or your general spiritual worldview.
3. In what ways can recognising the spaceless nature of God reshape your thoughts on the relationship between the Divine and the material world?
• Think about how this understanding could influence your beliefs about creation, existence, and the presence of the Divine in everyday life.
Meditative Exercise
Spend 10-15 minutes in a quiet space to reflect on the concept of God’s immensity as free from spatial extension. Imagine the boundless, spaceless nature of the Divine and consider how this infinite nature might be present in your life and surroundings. Write down any insights or feelings about the presence of a Divine that is not limited by physical space.
Steps:
- Sit comfortably in a quiet place and close your eyes.
- Take several deep breaths and centre your thoughts.
- Contemplate the idea that the Divine is beyond any physical boundaries or space.
- Let your mind explore the idea of a spaceless presence filling your environment.
- Conclude by noting any new understandings or reflections that arise during this contemplation.
Creative Integration
Choose one of the key points from the video and try to express and integrate it creatively through your senses. Pick a modality to do this through, perhaps a different one from what you have chosen previously. Consider drawing or painting, making or listening to music, poetry, exercise, gardening, cooking, or even just watching the colourful or dramatic impressions of the natural world. There are so many ways you can engage with it. Record your insights from this exercise and also document any differences in what is awakened in you with this new modality.
You will have your own personal preferences, but here are two pieces of music and art that you might like to use for inspiration to get you started. Try to be sensitive to the emotions and thoughts that present as you engage with these, and reflect on how this might relate to your chosen key point.
Music
“Experience “by Ludovico Einaudi
Visual Art
“Composition VIII” by Wassily Kandinsky
Further Exploration
Listen to the audio recording of the book Spiritual Christianity. Collected from the theological works of Emmanuel Swedenborg by Charles Augustus Tulk which is what this short course series is based on.
Listen HERE to Spiritual Christianity: Chapter 1-Part 3 (YouTube channel)