Goodness: A Doctrine of God

Abstract

This project comprises a constructive theological framework in three parts, and endeavors to articulate a coherent perspective on the nature and character of God. This exercise approaches this simple—yet very much not simple at all—question from a spiritually pluralist space grounded. This perspective comes from within and without traditional religious perspectives, and maintains dialogue with historical and contemporary theologians, mystics, and scholars across time and tradition. Beginning with an analysis of faith and a determination of first principles regarding the characteristics borne by Godhood, the first section of this project identifies God with absolute goodness and explores the ramifications of that identity in terms of divine agency, transcendentalism versus imminency, and how we as humans relate to God. The second section examines the dangers and possibilities associated with taking the all too often oppressive concepts of “idols” and “idolatry” seriously in a pluralist paradigm. With this perspective, “idols” as a concept are treated with respect and defined as those infinite and crucial avenues of connection between humans and God, while “idolatry” is reexamined through this lens as behavior which mistakes selfish pursuits of goodness with the eternal search for goodness in its multiplicity. The third section of this project develops a lens which delineates between body, spirit, and soul as a mechanism of understanding humanity, nature, God, and prayer.