You will not have “your head handed to you” by me. Not at all. All that you have written rings true in both the indwelling Spirit and in Scripture.
I strongly agree with your reservations about Whitehead’s theology – it is short-sighted and very much akin to Eastern metaphysics (hence my previous link to the Swami’s webpage).
Also, I do tend to use the term “aspect” when speaking of such Spiritual matters for to me, the Spirit gives us an understanding which is akin to a seven faceted diamond. Depending on which facet one is holding to his face, he will see something slightly different – but it is the same diamond and the same Light.
After all, Jesus chose twelve disciples with very different personalities and authenticated seven churches with their own “bent” on the Christian life. Denominational differences today are like that – with much of the difference between them (which can sometimes get quite heated) being a matter of emphasis.
For instance, Catholics put a great emphasis on Peter’s mission and Mary’s honor. Southern Baptists put great emphasis on the Berean test and thus are often seen toting large Bibles with bookmarks and tabs. Others put emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit and Pentecost, prophesy. And so on…
But where the Trinitarian Truth is upheld – there is no substantive difference in that all are seeing the same diamond, the same Light.
Another metaphor I’ve used (which may be a take from your Michaelangelo metaphor) is the artist making a great masterpiece. His palette is full of different colors. What kind of a masterpiece would He have if He mixed all the colors into one?
I also strongly agree with you on the import of Light and of His speaking it into existence. In His two great revelations -–the Scriptures and the Creation – there are often "types" or symbols and this is one.
Looking at the root Hebrew words of Genesis 1, of evening and morning, the Scriptures are actually speaking of moving chaos to order. That is a directed process, i.e. creation.
And the first order brought by His speaking is Light. This is seen in the cosmic microwave background – where sound waves are recorded at the moment when the universe had cooled enough that photons decoupled from electrons, protons and neutrons, atoms formed and light went its way.
Thus the physical creation is a “type” for the spiritual Truth which the Scriptures confirm.
But Spiritual Light is much more significant. God is Light, there is no darkness in Him. (I John 1:5) We are the children of Light and are to walk in the Light. (I Th 5:5, I John 1:7).
The mystery of Light is unraveled by Hebrews 1:3 where He proclaims that Jesus is the “brightness” of the Father’s “glory”. There is no line of separation between them. The Father and the Son are One. (John 17).
Likewise, the Scriptures declare there was a beginning of both heaven and earth. And our observations of the physical realm again speak to the beginning of real time and space (geometry in all cosmologies).
Which brings me to my final observation – which is really only a translation for any Lurkers who might be interested. We both use the term “universal vacuum field” to describe the same thing that I often call “geometry”. A field is defined as existing in all points of space/time. Thus when we say “universal” and “vacuum” it speaks to an empty “allness”, the underlying structure or geometry. By swapping terms, I may be unintentionally creating some confusion – my intent however is to ready the debate for whichever turn it might take, i.e. either to the structure of all that there is – or to the content (or lack of content) thereof.
Thank you so very much Alamo-Girl, for your kind words!
WRT the above excerpt, I thank you for clarifying the way we use these terms. Indeed, whether one speaks of the primary universal vacuum field or the underlying geometry of the Universe, one is essentially speaking of one and the same thing. I especially appreciate your term, "empty allness" (that is, one thinks, pregnant with possibilities that are yet to be manifested) to describe this concept....
You wrote: "But where the Trinitarian Truth is upheld – there is no substantive difference in that all are seeing the same diamond, the same Light." Truly I think this is the main thing. Christians are called to live in intimate communion with our Lord, in his Light, Truth, Love, and Grace. Particular doctrinal confessions are in comparison only of secondary importance. IMHO FWIW.
PatrickHenry has a great article up today on quantum field theory -- the Standard Model and the Supersymmetric Standard Models, and the quest for the Higgs boson. Find the Higgs, and you have found the Higgs field; for the Standard Model of particle physics states that every particular subatomic particle is the product of a particular field. My conjecture is that the Higgs field would not be the most "basic" field in the Universe; that would be the primary universal vacuum. But maybe it is "first-born" of the Vacuum; my conjecture is it is the Vacuum which ultimately produces all the other fields, according to a specifying geometry, or "cosmic blueprint." (Which as indicated in my previous post I associate with the Word God Spoke in the beginning, that got loaded into the singularity of the big bang....) You can read the article at this link: The Mysteries of Mass
Highly recommended "good stuff!" [Thanks again, Patrick, for posting it!!!]
Thank you so much for writing, dear sister in Christ!