Because God Is Self Sending God

Because God is Self-Sending God: Exploring the Paradox of Divine Self-Causation

The concept of God's self-existence, often described as ipsum esse subsistens, presents a profound theological and philosophical puzzle. If God is the uncaused cause, the causa sui, how can we reconcile this with the seemingly paradoxical notion of self-creation? This article delves into the intricacies of this concept, exploring different theological perspectives and philosophical arguments surrounding the self-sending nature of God. We will examine the implications of this idea for understanding God's attributes, such as eternity, omnipotence, and immutability. Finally, we will consider the challenges and criticisms levelled against the concept of God as causa sui and explore potential resolutions.

The Paradox of Self-Causation

The idea that God is self-caused immediately encounters a significant challenge: the apparent contradiction inherent in self-causation. In the realm of finite beings, causality operates linearly; every event has a prior cause. We are born from parents, our actions stem from prior intentions, and our existence is contingent upon preceding events. The concept of something causing itself seems to violate this fundamental principle. How can something exist prior to its own existence? This apparent paradox has led many philosophers and theologians to reject the notion of causa sui outright.

The Aristotelian Objection

Aristotle, a significant influence on Western thought, explicitly rejected the possibility of self-causation. He argued that everything that begins to exist must have a cause external to itself. This principle, central to his metaphysics, forms the basis for his cosmological argument for God's existence – a First Cause, uncaused itself, is necessary to initiate the chain of causality in the universe. However, Aristotle's argument doesn't address the internal coherence of a self-caused being; it simply posits the necessity of a First Cause, not necessarily one that is self-caused.

The Problem of Temporal Order

Another significant objection arises from the linear nature of time. If God is self-caused, then God's existence must precede God's existence, which is a temporal impossibility. This temporal paradox highlights the limitations of applying our understanding of causality and time to the infinite and eternal nature of God. The very concept of "before" and "after" might not apply to a being existing outside of time.

Resolving the Paradox: Theological Approaches

Despite these challenges, many theologians and philosophers have attempted to reconcile the concept of God as causa sui with the principles of logic and reason. Several approaches aim to navigate this apparent contradiction:

God as Existing Outside of Time

One approach argues that God exists outside of the linear flow of time, making the temporal objection irrelevant. God's existence is atemporal; it is not bound by the before and after of temporal sequence. From this perspective, the concept of self-causation doesn't involve a temporal process but rather a timeless act of self-existence. God's existence is not a becoming, but an is. This approach relies heavily on a distinction between the temporal world of creation and the eternal realm of God's being.

God's Existence as Necessary Existence

Another approach emphasizes God's necessary existence. Unlike contingent beings whose existence is dependent on external factors, God's existence is necessary; it is impossible for God not to exist. This necessary existence is not a result of a causal process but rather a fundamental aspect of God's nature. The concept of self-causation, in this context, is not about a temporal act of creation but about the inherent necessity of God's being. God's existence is not a caused event, but a necessary reality.

The Distinction Between Creation and Self-Existence

It is crucial to distinguish between God's self-existence and God's creation of the universe. God's self-existence is a foundational reality, an a priori condition for any subsequent act of creation. The creation of the universe, however, is a contingent act, an act of free will emanating from God's self-existent nature. The self-causation applies only to God's own being, not to the universe or any other created entity. This distinction helps to address the concern of applying finite models of causality to the infinite being of God.

God's Attributes and Self-Causation

The concept of God as causa sui has profound implications for understanding God's attributes:

Eternity

God's atemporal existence, a consequence of self-causation, is essential to understanding God's eternity. If God were subject to temporal limitations, the notion of self-causation would become even more paradoxical. The eternity of God underscores the timeless nature of God's self-existence.

Omnipotence

God's omnipotence, or all-powerful nature, is also intertwined with self-causation. If God were not self-caused, there would be a prior cause limiting God's power. Self-causation affirms God's absolute independence and freedom from any external constraint.

Immutability

God's immutability, or unchanging nature, is further reinforced by the concept of self-causation. If God were subject to change, this would imply a dependence on external factors, contradicting the notion of self-caused existence. Self-causation implies a necessary and unchanging nature, free from any external influences.

Challenges and Criticisms

Despite the theological attempts to reconcile the paradox, the concept of God as causa sui remains a source of debate and criticism:

The Problem of Contingency

Critics argue that even if God's existence is necessary, it is still contingent upon the laws of logic or metaphysics. The very possibility of God's existence depends on the structure of reality itself, suggesting a limitation on God's absolute independence. This challenges the idea of a completely self-caused being.

The Violation of Causality

The fundamental challenge remains the apparent violation of causality. Even if we accept God's atemporal existence, the concept of self-causation still seems to defy the logical principle that every event has a cause. This tension between theological affirmations and logical principles continues to fuel debate.

The Anthropic Principle

The self-caused nature of God is often linked to the anthropic principle, which states that the universe's characteristics are precisely tuned to support the existence of life, including human life. This raises the question of whether a self-caused God designed the universe specifically for humanity, leading to implications for the problem of evil and the nature of God's intentions.

Conclusion: Embracing the Mystery

The concept of God as self-sending God, or causa sui, remains a profound and challenging theological and philosophical puzzle. While the apparent paradoxes are undeniable, various theological approaches attempt to reconcile the concept with logic and reason. The ultimate resolution might lie in accepting the inherent mystery surrounding God's nature. Our human understanding of causality and time may be inadequate to fully grasp the infinite and eternal nature of God. The concept of self-causation, therefore, can be seen not as a problem to be solved, but as a mystery to be contemplated, a testament to the transcendence and incomprehensibility of the divine. The journey of exploring this concept enriches our understanding of God's attributes and the relationship between the divine and the created world. It reminds us of the limits of human reason and the awe-inspiring mystery at the heart of faith.