All civilisations have a cosmology. I've mentioned this before and noted the Christian faith has recognised several radically different cosmologies, eg first century Palestine, Medieval Catholic, Newtonian and modern.
The problem is, of course, our modern cosmology is rather difficult to understand and so many theologians have ignored it. They prefer the certainties of Newton's mechanical cosmology, even though it drains life from the faith. (Leaving aside the intellectually deprived ravings of the creationists and those who favour even earlier cosmologies.)
The new cosmology offers opportunities for Christians because it relates the observer and the observed. It embeds us in the material world and at the same time transcends it. It allows for the possibility of a spiritual dimension to matter, which should take us away from the sterile dualism of spirit and matter that has plagued Christian history.
It's odd because so much of our theology denies dualism. We are invited to understand Jesus as both human and divine. Matter and spirit are seen to be joined in a seamless whole. Surely this story tells us something of our own nature?
And we have the dance of the Trinity, that holds us face to face with something beyond the spirit matter dualism of our sterile dreams.
So, why do some Christians insist matter is somehow bad? Why all the hang-ups about sex? Partly it is to do with economics and human exploitation but at a deeper level it is disgust with matter. And yet the invitation has to be to embrace life. If God could live fully as a human, so must we.
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