In this episode, we delve again into the complex and multifaceted ways of understanding God based off theologian Peter Rollins’ four concepts of God. You can watch his conversation with Rob Bell on The RobCast here. Last week we covered God as Super being and God as Hyper being. This week we move on to God as Ground of Being and God as Event.

The conversation touches on influences from theologians and philosophers like Paul Tillich, Simone Veil, and C.S. Lewis, and explores concepts for God in both scripture and historical context. We underscore the importance of avoiding idolatry in our conceptions of God and highlight the progression of faith development that moves from concrete, child-like beliefs to more abstract, mystical understandings. We also discuss how different states of human experience, such as fear and anger, can shape our perception of God. Finally, stay tuned for future episodes focusing on metaphors for God and the significance of our language in religious discourse.

00:00 Introduction and Recap

00:36 Philosophical Ways of Understanding God

01:00 God as Super Being

01:34 God as Hyper Being

03:06 God in Christian Development

08:14 God as Ground of Being

13:06 Mystical Perspectives on God

27:32 Scriptural References and Idolatry

31:53 God as Event

37:40 Framing the Concept of God as Event

38:27 Philosophical vs. Theological Perspectives

40:27 God's Presence in History

42:07 Greek Philosophy's Influence on Christian Theology

47:29 Process Theology and Open Theology

50:54 The Weakness of God and the Theology of the Cross

01:11:03 Stages of Faith Development

01:15:06 Upcoming Topics and Reflections

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Cross Connections is a ministry of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA and is hosted by the Rev. Rick Morley, Elliot VanHoy, and Natalee Hill.

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