This article is a continuation of the previous one regarding God and the universe.

If we go along with pantheists like Baruch Spinoza, a Dutch philosopher, we are left with a universe whose god is not self-aware.  What does this mean?  Let us take human beings as an example.  We are more or less self-aware depending on the individual.  We realize that we are I’s in relationship with ourselves and other people.  We know we exist; we are in relationships with other people; we know, think, feel, and speak; and we can reflect on our existence.

Martin Buber wrote a book that explains what I/You relationships are.  Alister McGrath in his book,  Christian Theology–An Introduction, explains Buber’s  perspective.  He writes that we know and are known by a You.  In an I /It relationship we know about the It. The It cannot respond.  An I/You relationship is “mutual;  reciprocal, symmetrical, and contentless.” (p. 180)  The knowing in this sort of relationship is not about knowing information but knowing the other self. We become aware of one another as a subject rather than an object. (McGrath) McGrath writes, “. . . an I/ You relationship involves the encounter of two mutually active subjects.”  (p. 180)  Buber thinks that the personal encounter of human beings informs our relationship to God.  Commenting on Buber, McGrath observes that God in His self-revelation comes to us as a person, especially in Jesus Christ.  God is an active subject, not passive as if to be a passive object.  We are known by God in this special personal relationship.  (See pages 180-181)  God, therefore, is self-aware.  He is not an It but a You.

Here is an example from the Scriptures.  “When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’  And he said, ‘Here I am.’ A pantheistic universe is an It with no self-consciousness.  God comes to us, drawing us into a relationship.  On the other hand, It does not address us.  It is an object that we come to know about but do not know.  The It can not and does not know us.  It simply is. But, God is one who knows us.  “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.  Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.  You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high I cannot attain it.” (139: 1-5 ESV)  The beautiful “Collect for Purity” from the Book of Common Prayer  reads:  “Almighty God,  unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee and worthily magnify thy holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen” In this prayer we address God as person who knows us to the heart.

• McGrath mentions the two uses of persons in Christian faith.  Person can mean an individual or can refer to the three Persons of the Holy Trinity.  Person, in the latter sense, originally comes from the Latin word, persona, pertaining to the masks actors wore in the theater to represent different characters.  God comes to us in three persons in a personal way.

Pantheism describes a god who does not, will not, can not relate to us.  One wonders if self-conscious beings like ourselves aren’t superior in some ways to a god who is not self-aware.

We confess and believe that the true God comes to reveal Himself.  We have a relationship with Him that bears much fruit, especially His gift of grace.  This is the God whom we share with others with gentleness and respect.

Michael G. Tavella

August 28, 2024

Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo