Theologies of Creation Creatio Ex Nihilo and Its New Rivals

Humans have long wondered about the origin of the universe. And such questions are especially alive today as physicists offer metaphysical theories to account for the emergence of creation. Theists have attributed the universe?s origin to divine activity, and many have said God created something from absolute nothingness. The venerable doctrine of creatio ex nihilo especially emphasizes God?s initial creating activity. Some contributors to this book explore new reasons creatio ex nihilo should continue to be embraced today. But other contributors question the viability of creation from nothing and offer alternative initial creation options in its place. These new alternatives explore a variety of options in light of recent scientific work, new biblical scholarship, and both new and old theological traditions.

Notes on Contributors

Dedication

Introduction – Thomas Jay Oord

1. Myth and Modern Physics: On the Power of Nothing - Mary-Jane Rubenstein
2. Creation ex Nihilo and Intensifying the Vulnerability of God - Philip Clayton
3. ‘Nothingsomething’ on My Mind: Creatio ex Nihilo or ex Profundis? - Catherine Keller
4. The Fecundity of Nothing: A Proposal of Creatio ex Potentia in Conversation with Quantum Cosmologies - Marit Trelstad
5. Creation Out of Nothing Remodeled - Eric M. Vail
6. Creatio A Materia Ex Christi - Stephen H. Webb
7. Creatio Ex Deo: Incarnation, Spirituality, Creation - Michael Zbaraschuk
8. Creatio ex Nihilo: It’s Not about Nothing - Richard Rice
9. Creatio ex Amore! - Michael Lodahl
10. God Always Creates Out of Creation in Love: Creatio ex Creatione a Natura Amoris - Thomas Jay Oord

Bibliography

Index

Thomas Jay Oord, Ph.D., is author or editor of more than twenty books. He serves on the executive council of a number of academic societies in theology and philosophy.