Terminology Tuesday: Divine action
Events brought about by God understood as an intentional agent. It is characteristic both of the biblical narrative and of classical theism to see God as a being who acts. Traditional theologians have distinguished between God’s actions in creating and conserving the world and its general providential ordering and God’s actions in special or particular providence and miracles at particular points in history. Some contemporary theologians do not think of God as an intentional agent and so regard all talk of divine action as metaphorical. Others are willing to accept God’s activity in creation but regard “special acts” as events that are brought about through the normal nature order yet have a special revelatory function. Philosophical debates continue about the implications of divine action for God’s relation to time and space. See also actions (divine and human).
Evans, C. Stephen, Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002).
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