In
the book Jesus’
Sermon on the Mount,
Carson presents four cosmological models for God’s interaction
(or lack there of) with the universe. Though two bear similarities,
they are all very different theories and only one, the last one, has
a biblical basis. These four models are the open universe, the closed
universe, the quasi-theistic universe (a modification of the closed
universe) and the controlled universe. There are four different
models, but real the central struggle in these cosmologies is a.
whether God exists, and b. if her does exist, whether he exists as
the creator or an omnipresent sustainer. Only the last cosmology of
the controlled universe advocates the biblical perspective that God
exists as an omnipresent, sovereign creator and sustainer.
The
first cosmology, the open universe, is very much an animistic
cosmology. Animism, defined as a belief in spirits whose actions are
determined by the actions of humans, characterizes this open universe
theory relatively well. Theoretically, in this Open Universe
cosmology, the actions of human beings in carrying out rituals,
acting appropriately, and making appropriate prayers or sacrifices
would affect this god(s) so that he might act favorably or
unfavorably upon humans according to his judgment of their actions.
Science plays no part in an open universe perspective. Since god, in
this sense, is unpredictable no scientific laws can be perceived
because there is no ability to perceive a predictable god. Carson
connected this idea of animism with the perceptions of God of a New
Guinea tribe, but the connection in my mind was with my studies of
Greek mythology. The stories contained within these myths tell of
gods who could be angered or pleased by the actions of humans and
would respond to individuals accordingly. As I understand it, this is
an accurate picture of the Open Universe cosmology.
Closed
universe is the second cosmology that Carson expounds upon. The
closed universe is really, for lack of a better phrase, a mechanical
universe. This perspective contains the view of the universe of
atheists and scientists; in effect, science is god in a closed
universe, for there is no other “legitimate perspective”.
The closed universe limits the universe to matter, energy, and space,
leaving no room for a God, let alone the God of scripture. In this
cosmology, cause and effect takes the role of god. Cause and effect
explains everything and contains everything, in effect removing the
intellectual need for God.
The
third cosmology presented is really an alteration of the closed
universe cosmology and is entitled the quasi-theistic existentialist
model. This is an academic term that I understand to mean basically
that it is a cosmology that assumes the face of a biblical universe,
but is really just an attempt to use the idea of a “higher
power” to justify human existence. This altered version of a
closed universe really is only different in that it allows that the
universe was created by a being, however, it differs from the
biblical (controlled) universe in its assertion that God is
impersonal and subject to the control of his creation (science). This
cosmology acknowledges there is a God, but, in effect, worships
science; so while it appears to be centered on God, God is reduced to
his laws and natural orders. Carson makes a statement worth quoting
when he equates the god of this universe to an “impersonal
force which directs man to authentic existence”. This universe
belongs to the intellectuals and philosophers who recognize the
teleological nature of the universe, but can’t bring themselves
to recognize the personal force of God in the universe. They see only
a God, like a watchmaker, who has created, set his creation in to
motion within certain boundaries and guidelines, and left it to
operate accordingly.
The
final cosmology was the cosmology of a God sovereign over all things,
including science and natural law. This seemed to be the most
developed and well explained cosmology Carson wrote about, and also
the most complex. In The controlled universe God is both creator and
sustainer, and it is only because of his power over science, that the
universe is sustained from one second to the next. God, since he
created science, cause and effect, and other laws, reigns over them
sovereignty and has the right to suspend his laws at any time (as is
evident in miracles such as the resurrection). God is impossible to
put into special terms in this cosmology because he is omni present-
both in creation and above creation, involved in every detail from
science and natural law to emotions and the wonders of nature. This
final cosmology is the reality of the world we live in, a universe
with an all powerful, ever present personal God.
