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Christian Eschatology and the Physical Universe

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Christian Eschatology and the Physical Universe Durham E-Theses Christian Eschatology and the Physical Universe Wilkinson, David Adam How to cite: Wilkinson, David Adam (2004) Christian Eschatology and the Physical Universe, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/2815/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk Abstract Christian Eschatology and the Physical Universe David A. Wilkinson The scientific picture of the end of the Universe has undergone dramatic changes since 1998, with its future characterized by accelerated expansion and futihty. Yet Christian systematic theology has been largely silent on this, despite the interest in eschatology in popular culture and in theology itself. This thesis argues that Christian theology can learn and contribute in a dialogue with the scientific picture of the future of the Universe. Using a Wesleyan approach to theology, the biblical narratives are explored in conversation with the scientific discoveries. If Christian eschatology is to have a fruitful dialogue, then it must take seriously the relationship between creation and new creation. In particular this relationship, modelled by the resurrection, must be represented by a tension between continuity and discontinuity. In this way the movement to new creation is seen as transformation rather than destruction of this creation. Indeed, there are pointers to this new creation which may be part of a revised natural theology. The action and faithfiihiess of God are both key elements in this transformation, working both in process and event. Contemporary theologians including Moltmann and Paimenberg either ignore this tension or fail to relate it to the physical Universe. At the same time the 'scientific eschatologies' of Dyson and Tipler, and the eschatological speculations of contemporary fundamentalism are shown to be inadequate scientifically and theologically. This tension leads to the suggestion that space and time are real in creation and new creation, and a multi• dimensional view of God's relationship with time is proposed. Further, speculation on the transformation of matter in new creation needs to reflect its relationality and context. The consequences for the relationship of Christian eschatology to the biological world, providence, hope, ethics, and Christian apologetics are explored. In particular such a robust Christian eschatology engages constructively with questions of hope in contemporary culture. Christian Eschatology and the Physical Universe A copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. David Adam Wilkinson PhD Thesis University of Durham Department of Theology 2004 2 8 FEB 2005 Contents Chapter One Introduction 6 1.1 Fascination with the Future 6 1.2 The Rediscovery of Eschatolog^' in Christian Theology 8 1.3 Left Behind or Burnt Up? The new fundamentalism 9 1.4 The Future in the Dialogue of Science and Religion 11 Chapter 2 An End in Futility: Scientific Pessimism 13 2.1 Environmental Catastrophe 13 2.2 Comet or Asteroid Impact 14 2.3 The Death of the Sun 15 2.4 The Doomsday Argument 16 2.5 The End of the Universe 17 2 .6 The Future of Life in the Future of the Universe 21 2.6.1 The Endless Fertility of Bubble Universes 21 2.6.2 Dyson and Life in all Directions 23 2.6.3 Tipler and Life in a Closed Universe. 24 2.6.4 What is the Point of a Lifeless Universe? 26 Chapter 3 The Limited Universal Responses of the Theologians of Hope 28 3.1 What is the Universe? The absence of any consideration of the physical Universe in relation to eschatology 29 3 .2 Moltmann's Limited Universal Eschatology 33 3.2.1 Christologjcal Eschatology 33 3.2.2 Integrative Eschatology 35 3.2.3 Redemptive Eschatology 36 3.2.4 Progressive Eschatology 37 3.2.5 Theocentric Eschatology 39 3.2.6 Contextual Eschatology 39 3.2.7 Pohtically and Pastorally Responsible Eschatology 40 3.2.8 Moltmann and the End of the Univeree 40 3 .3 Pannenberg and the Physics of Immortality 42 3.3.1 Paimenberg on Science 43 3.3.2 Paimenberg's Theological Questions to Scientists 43 3 .3.3 Theological and Scientific Questions to Pannenberg 45 3.3.4 Pannaiberg's Dialogue with Tipler 49 3.3.5 The Present Status ofPannenberg's End of the Universe 51 3.4 The Scientist-theologians 53 3.5 What does the theological future hold? 56 Chapter 4 Cosmological Hope in the Eschatologies of the Bible 58 4.1 'Heaven' 65 4.2 Isaiah 11.1-9 66 4.3 Isaiah 65:17-25 67 4.4 1 Thessalonians4:13-5:l 1 69 4.5 2 Peter 3:10-13 72 4.6 Revelation 21:1-8 76 4.7 Romans 8:18-30 80 4.6.1 Pauline Eschatology 81 4 .6.2 Cosmic Hope 81 4.6.3 Romans 8 and the end of the Universe 87 4.8 New Creation and this Creation 89 Chapter 5 Reclaiming the Resurrection in Its Cosmological Setting 92 5.1 Colossians 1:15-20 93 -5r2^=^eoi4hthians 15 ... 95. 5.2.1 The Empty Tomb 95 5.2.2 The Resurrection Body 97 5.3 The Gospels 103 5.4 Resurrection and the Future of the Universe 105 5.4.1 What does the resurrection mean for the doctrine of creation? 106 5.4.2 What does the resurrection mean for the doctrine of new creation? 108 5 .4 .3 What does the resurrection mean for the relationship of the Earth to the Universe? 111 5.5 Continuity, Discontinuity and Transformation 113 Chapter 6 Models of continuity and discontinuity: Space-time 117 6.1 Time and Contemporary Culture 118 6.2 General Relativity 118 6.3 The Arrow of Time 120 6.4 bnagining Time at the Begirming 122 6.5 Representing Time 125 6.6 God's Relationship to Time 126 6.7 The Nature of Space-time in the New Creation 131 6.8 Continuity and Discontinuity in Space-time 134 Chapter 7 Models of Continuity and Discontinuity: Matter 137 7.1 The Nature of Matter in this Creation: Scientific hisights 137 7.1.1 Mass 137 7.1.2 Quantum theory and chaos 13 8 7.1.3 The Importance of Pattern and Information 139 7.2 Biblical Insights on the Transformation of Matter 140 7.3 The Body and Soul Debate 141 7.3.1 Modem Defences of Body/Soul Duality 141 7.3.2 Psychosomatic Unity in Science 142 7 .3 .3 Bibhcal hisights 142 7.3.4 The Revival of the Soul? 143 7.4 Feminist Theology and the Importance of the Body 146 7.5 Sacramental Theology: The Body and the World 148 7.5.1 Doors to the Sacred 148 7.5.2 Eucharist and Eschatology 149 7 .6'Radically Different'? Polkinghome and the future of matter 151 7.7 That's the End of the Matter? 155 Chapters Fruitful Interaction: Creation and New Creation 157 8.1 New Creation and the Biological World 157 8.1.1 The Place of Animals in Creation 157 8.1.2 The Place of Animals in New Creation 159 8.1.3 The Animal Theology of Andrew Linzey 162 8.1.4 Holding Together Creation and New Creation in the Animal World 164 8.2 Eschatology and Models of Providence 167 8.2.1 Models of God's Providence 169 8.2.2 Providence and New creation 176 8 .3 The Continuity and Discontinuity of Hope 180 8.3 .1 The Myth of Human Progress 181 8.3.2 Ethics and the Envirormient 183 8.3 .3 Christian Apologetics 185 8.3.4 The Dialogue of Science and Rehgion 187 Chapter 9 Conclusion 189 Appendix A A Note on Millennium Theology 193 Bibliography 194 Acknowledgments Part of this thesis has been presented at various academic conferences and in a number of papers. Papers have been given at: 'Theologians at the End of the Universe', The Science and Religion Fonim, St Johns College, Durham, 1999. 'The End of it All?', Creation and Complexity , Templeton Workshop on Science and Religion, Canberra, 2002. 'New Creation', World Methodist Theological Institute, Oxford, 2002. 'Science and Religion in the Media', Templeton Lecture, University of Cambridge, 2002. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the help given in supervision of this thesis by Professor David Brown and Professor Ann Loades. In addition I have benefited from discussions witli Professor Sir Arnold Wolfendale, FRS, and Professor Carlos Frenck. Unless otherwise staled. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright 1973, 1978,1984 International Bible Society, Inclusive Language Version 1995, 1996 Hodder and Stoughton. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author No quotation from it should be published without their prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. Chapter One Introduction Current speculation on the future of the Earth and the Universe' is an important topic not only in contemporary science but also in popular culture.
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