Beyond Time: Defending God's Transcendence

by Timothy N. Sansbury

Overview

Beyond Time: Defending God's Transcendence responds to the recent turn in Christian theology towards the view that God is temporal. The book develops an interdisciplinary basis, drawing on resources from historical theology, relativity and quantum mechanics, and the modern philosophy of time, to demonstrate the continued viability of the view that God transcends created time. God's presence, knowledge, activity, and personhood, as well as the more general problem of fatalism, are commonly cited arguments against timelessness, yet these issues are demonstrably inconsequential or even resolved by a robust view of divine transcendence. Beyond Time engages readers with the fascinating question of time's nature, in order to vindicate the historically orthodox view that God lives beyond time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761846420
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	07/16/2009
Pages:	146
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Timothy Sansbury works from Houston, TX as a speaker and writer on issues of interdisciplinary Christian theology; specifically science and theology as well as Christian education. He holds degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology in physics and Reformed Theological Seminary in Christian thought, as well as a doctorate in theology and philosophy from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Abbreviations
Chapter 2 Preface
Chapter 3 Introduction
Chapter 4 Chapter One: Method, Origins, and Scripture
Chapter 5 Chapter Two: The Nature of Time
Chapter 6 Chapter Three: Arguments Against Divine Temporal Transcendence
Chapter 7 Chapter Four: The Coherence of Divine Temporal Transcendence
Chapter 8 Chapter Five: The Problem of Evil and the Language of Eternity
Chapter 9 Index
Chapter 10 Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

In his insightful defense of the temporal transcendence of God, [Sansbury][ reaches into his own background and makes forays into theology, philosophy, and science to make his case. His last chapter stirs special interest and relevance as he probes the applications of divine temporal transcendence. He makes the reader aware that the view of time and of God that he defends, taken seriously, may open deeper understanding of the Bible and call for some rewriting of theology, philosophy, and science and their relationships. He hopes that his readers will "enjoy the text" and "recognize the coherence and value of the doctrine of divine temporal transcendence." I believe this book will fulfill his hope.

Charles S. MacKenzie

In his insightful defense of the temporal transcendence of God, [Sansbury][ reaches into his own background and makes forays into theology, philosophy, and science to make his case. His last chapter stirs special interest and relevance as he probes the applications of divine temporal transcendence. He makes the reader aware that the view of time and of God that he defends, taken seriously, may open deeper understanding of the Bible and call for some rewriting of theology, philosophy, and science and their relationships. He hopes that his readers will "enjoy the text" and "recognize the coherence and value of the doctrine of divine temporal transcendence." I believe this book will fulfill his hope.--Charles S. MacKenzie, Ph.D., L.H.D., Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary

From the Publisher