Monday, March 21, 2011

And if any one imagine that at the end material, i.e., bodily, nature will be entirely destroyed, he cannot in any respect meet my view, how beings so numerous and powerful are able to live and to exist without bodies, since it is an attribute of the divine nature alone— i.e., of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— to exist without any material substance, and without partaking in any degree of a bodily adjunct. Another, perhaps, may say that in the end every bodily substance will be so pure and refined as to be like the æther, and of a celestial purity and clearness. How things will be, however, is known with certainty to God alone, and to those who are His friends through Christ and the Holy Spirit. (Book I, Chapter 6, Part 4)

There are issues worth speculation, imagination, and creative consideration that are entirely beyond knowing.

We can still have opinions and preferences. We can even seek to defend our claims.

But with these mysteries - especially - it is helpful to listen to other claims in love.

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