GOD AS A COMMUNICATIVE SYSTEMSUI GENERIS: BEYOND THE PSYCHIC, SOCIAL, PROCESS MODELS OF THE TRINITY

Abstract

Abstract.With an aim to develop a public theology for an age of information media (or media theology), this article proposes a new God‐concept: God is a communicative systemsui generisthat autopoietically processes meaning/information in the supratemporal realm via perfect divine mediaad intra(Word/Spirit). For this task, Niklas Luhmann's systems theory is critically appropriated in dialogue with theology. First, my working postmetaphysical/epistemological stance is articulated as realistic operational constructivism and functionalism. Second, a series of arguments are advanced to substantiate the thesis: (1) God is an observing systemsui generis; (2) self‐referential communication is divine operation; (3) unsurpassable complexity is divine mystery; (4) supratemporal autopoiesis of meaning is divine processing; (5) agape is the symbolic medium of divine communication. Third, this communicative model of God is developed into a trinitarian theology, with a claim that this model offers a viable alternative beyond the standard (psychic, social, process) models. Finally, some implications of this model are explored for constructive theology (conceiving creation as divine mediatization) and for science‐and‐religion in terms of derivative models: (1) God as a living systemsui generisand (2) God as a meaning systemsui generis.