The concept of eternity

Abstract

Of all the attributes commonly attributed to the deity, none is more perplexing than the attribute of eternity. In fact, it seems as if it is now the vogue to writeoff eternity as being inessential to theism and opt for a god in process, which unequivocably separates one from the mainstream tradition of Judeo-Christian natural theology.1 Indeed, it does seem as if eternity, as traditionally understood, causes severe if not insuperable difficulties concerning the consistency of theism. There are in particular three related problems which arise from a consideration of God's relation to a world in time if God is taken to be eternal and consequently timeless and immutable.2 One problem is the doctrine of predestination. Orthodox Christians accept the teaching that God predestines all those who are saved.3 But if this is so, then how can free creatures in any way effect their final end, and if their freedom excludes this, of what value is this freedom? It seems none at all. The doctrine of predestination is what, of course, provides the impetus for the Calvinist interpretation of freedom, i.e. a freedom which excludes contingency and is compatible with universal determinism. Rational creatures are free in the sense that (sometimes) they can do what they will, but what they will is necessitated.4 But the Calvinist position is further buttressed by a less theologically inspired argument, and this is the argument from God's omniscience. If God has necessary (and in this context we take "necessary" to mean unmistakably certain) knowledge of future logically contingent states of affairs, it seems as if the occurrence of these events does not allow for the kind of contingency necessary for a libertarian conception of freedom.5 There is yet another problem intimately conjoined to God's relation to a world in time, and this is a problem which appears to arise in offering solutions to the problems of predestination and foreknowledge, particularly when the solutions are predicated upon God's eternal, immutable nature. The problem concerns the reality of time, and is generated in this way. Freedom and foreknowledge would be