A question about EO and panentheism

[chaoschristian]

I've been studying process theology, and I was led, in part, to the subject of panentheism.

I did a quick Wiki check, as a place to start, and encountered this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panentheism):


Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christianity
The Eastern Orthodox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodoxy) and Oriental Orthodox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Orthodoxy#Oriental_Orthodox_Communion) Churches have a doctrine called panentheism to describe the relationship between the Uncreated (God (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God), who is omnipotent, eternal, and constant) and His creation that bears surface similarities with the panentheism described above but maintains a critical distinction.
Most specifically, these Churches teach that God is not the "watchmaker God" of the Western European (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe) Enlightenment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment). Likewise, they teach that God is not the "stage magician God" who only shows up when performing miracles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle). Instead, the teaching of both these Churches is that God is not merely necessary to have created the universe, but that His active presence is necessary in some way for every bit of creation, from smallest to greatest, to continue to exist at all. That is, God's energies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energies_of_God) maintain all things and all beings, even if those beings have explicitly rejected Him. His love of creation is such that he will not withdraw His presence, which would be the ultimate form of slaughter, not merely imposing death but ending existence, altogether. By this token, the entirety of creation is sanctified, and thus no part of creation can be considered innately evil. This does not deny the existence of evil in a fallen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fall_of_Man) universe, only that it is not an innate property of creation.
This Orthodox Christian panentheism is distinct from a "fundamentalist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalist)" panentheism in that it maintains an ontological gulf or distance between the created and the Uncreated. Creation is not "part of" God, and the Godhead is still distinct from creation; however, God is "within" all creation, thus the Orthodox parsing of the word is "pan-entheism" (God indwells in all things) and not "panen-theism" (All things are part of God but God is more than the sum of all things).


My questions are:

Does this accurately reflect what the members in this forum are taught in their churches?

What, in general, is the EO's stance on Creation? (not creationism, mind you, but God's Creation)

What is the general EO view on viceregency and humanity as God's stewards of Creation?

As per the rules, not here to preach or argue, but sincerely and genuinely wanted to learn.

Thank you.

[Knowledge3]

God is Father,Son,and Holy Spirit,consubstantial, one God.

Orthodoxy rejects all forms of deism and pantheism.

[Knowledge3]

Panentheism is not free pantheism.

[Knowledge3]

What, in general, is the EO's stance on Creation? (not creationism, mind you, but God's Creation)

God is the Creator and sustainer of all things created and uncreated.

His Son is the life of the body in the Orthodox Church.

The Church is an organic vessel of intimate union with Christ as She confesses the One True God.


What is the general EO view on viceregency and humanity as God's stewards of Creation?

We are to take care of His creatures and treat the sacred earth with care.

[chaoschristian]

God is Father,Son,and Holy Spirit,consubstantial, one God.

understood

Orthodoxy rejects all forms of deism and pantheism.

I didn't really think that Orthodoxy would accept them, but thank you

Panentheism is not free pantheism.

exactly, I'm glad we can understand that. confusing those two would be most unfortunate.

God is the Creator and sustainer of all things created and uncreated.

and sustainer.

this is something that I do not find in the language of Protestant theology that I am familiar with. and it is this concept that drew me to asking these questions.

His Son is the life of the body in the Orthodox Church.

understood

The Church is an organic vessel of intimate union with Christ as She confesses the One True God.

understood

We are to take care of His creatures and treat the sacred earth with care.

yes, understood.

Thank you for your responses.

[Lotar]

Yes, creation remains because God sustains it through His divine energies.

[choirfiend]

I lie down and sleep, I awake for the Lord sustains me...

[icxn]

I've been studying process theology, and I was led, in part, to the subject of panentheism.

I did a quick Wiki check, as a place to start, and encountered this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panentheism):

My questions are:

Does this accurately reflect what the members in this forum are taught in their churches?
While the definition seems ok, the use of the label panentheism to describe it is not very common.

Here's a related quote from St. Maximus:

From created beings we come to know their Cause; from the differences between created beings we learn about the indwelling Wisdom of creation; and from the natural activity of created beings we discern the indwelling Life of creation, the power which gives created beings their life - the Holy Spirit. (cf. Ps. 33:6)

The Holy Spirit is not absent from any created being, especially not from one which in any way participates in intelligence. For being God and God’s Spirit, He embraces in unity the spiritual knowledge of all created things, providentially permeating all things with His power, and vivifying their inner essences in accordance with their nature. In this way He makes men aware of things done sinfully against the law of nature, and renders them capable of choosing principles which are true and in conformity with nature. Thus we find many barbarians and nomadic peoples turning to a civilized way of life and setting aside the savage laws which they had kept among themselves from time immemorial.

The Holy Spirit is present unconditionally in all things, in that He embraces all things, provides for all, and vivifies the natural seeds within them. He is present in a specific- way in all who are under the Law, in that He shows them where they have broken the commandments and enlightens them about the promise given concerning Christ. In all who are Christians He is present also in yet another way in that He makes them sons of God. But in none is He fully present as the author of wisdom except in those who have understanding, and who by their holy way of life have made themselves fit to receive His indwelling and deifying presence. For everyone who does not carry out the divine will, even though he is a believer, has a heart which, being a workshop of evil thoughts, lacks understanding, and a body which, being always entangled in the defilements of the passions, is mortgaged to sin. - St Maximos the ConfessorWhat, in general, is the EO's stance on Creation? (not creationism, mind you, but God's Creation)

What is the general EO view on viceregency and humanity as God's stewards of Creation?There's an article by Metr. John Zizioulas called "Man the Priest of Creation: A Response to the Ecological Problem" which you would have found interesting, but I can't find it online. Nevertheless, these might also help. (http://goarch.org/en/ourfaith/environment/)

[chaoschristian]

Lotar, choirfiend, icxn:

Thank you!