Dr Emily Qureshi-Hurst University of Cambridge

Event details

Salvation in the Block Universe: Exploring the relationship between time and soteriology

Time is often underrepresented in conversations between religion and science. When it is discussed, the discussion tends to be dominated by God’s relationship to time. My aim in this talk is to move beyond standard debates about divine temporality. Instead, I want to examine the extent to which specific theological doctrines, in particular the Christian doctrine of salvation, should be shaped by insights from the physics and metaphysics of time. I will argue for a block universe, or a B-theory of time, which appears to be hostile to robust ontological change. The problem is, the doctrine of salvation seems to require the reality of change. If individuals are to be truly transformed from being ‘fallen’ to being ‘saved’, then robust change must be possible. But physics and metaphysics favours a block universe, which problematises robust change. Therefore, there exists a tension between the physics and metaphysics of time on the one hand, and the doctrine of salvation on the other. The philosophical question at the heart of this is: can sinners really change?