It’s Not a Typo
There is an intentional ambiguity embedded in the expression GODISNOWHERE. There are (at least) two ways of reading it. “God is now here” refers to the familiar concept found in Christianity - God’s omnipresence. God is near, close, even everywhere.
“God is nowhere” can be said to refer to the experience of God’s absence. A less familiar concept, but nonetheless as central to Christianity as God’s “immanence”. Jesus’ cry on the Cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” points to this ambiguity.
We cannot, in fact, experience the presence of God without also experiencing God’s absence.
To take this a step further, the expression functions as a critique of a kind of dualistic thinking which separates people into "us" and "them", theists and atheists. Both theists and atheists affirm and reject particular notions or concepts about "God". Early Christians, in fact, were considered "atheists" for their rejection of Roman gods (Justin Martyr). Theists and atheists may have more in common than is immediately obvious. Gods come in all shapes and sizes. Just read (or soon watch) Neil Gaiman's American Gods.
Nonetheless, the comments continue: yet another silly church sign gone wrong. Some are offended and wish it were removed and others dismiss it as simple minded carelessness.
One news outlet (ABC affiliate) reported knowing the church ("in Newtown") did not “intend” for it to read the way it does. I'm not sure how they discovered our intentions.
It’s not a typo .
(say it again with your best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice).
Is God now here?
Is God nowhere?
Well…yes, but how? In what way?
It’s not all good nor is it all bad.
“Why, then, ’tis none to you, for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Hamlet
There is an intentional ambiguity embedded in the expression GODISNOWHERE. There are (at least) two ways of reading it. “God is now here” refers to the familiar concept found in Christianity - God’s omnipresence. God is near, close, even everywhere.
“God is nowhere” can be said to refer to the experience of God’s absence. A less familiar concept, but nonetheless as central to Christianity as God’s “immanence”. Jesus’ cry on the Cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” points to this ambiguity.
We cannot, in fact, experience the presence of God without also experiencing God’s absence.
To take this a step further, the expression functions as a critique of a kind of dualistic thinking which separates people into "us" and "them", theists and atheists. Both theists and atheists affirm and reject particular notions or concepts about "God". Early Christians, in fact, were considered "atheists" for their rejection of Roman gods (Justin Martyr). Theists and atheists may have more in common than is immediately obvious. Gods come in all shapes and sizes. Just read (or soon watch) Neil Gaiman's American Gods.
Nonetheless, the comments continue: yet another silly church sign gone wrong. Some are offended and wish it were removed and others dismiss it as simple minded carelessness.
One news outlet (ABC affiliate) reported knowing the church ("in Newtown") did not “intend” for it to read the way it does. I'm not sure how they discovered our intentions.
It’s not a typo .
(say it again with your best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice).
Is God now here?
Is God nowhere?
Well…yes, but how? In what way?
It’s not all good nor is it all bad.
“Why, then, ’tis none to you, for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Hamlet