The Problem of Arbitrary Creation for Impassibility

• Main Author: Mullins R. T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: De Gruyter 2020-07-01
• Series: Open Theology
• Subjects: impassibility; rationality; creation; god
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2020-0110

There is a particular question that has plagued classical Christian theism over the centuries. What reason could God have for creating a universe? In this article, I shall articulate the unique claims of classical theism that other rival models of God lack. I shall argue that classical theism’s unique commitments entail that God cannot create the universe for a reason. Thus, any nonclassical model of God can claim to have the advantage over classical theism because they can affirm that God creates the universe for a reason. In Section 1, I shall articulate classical theism. In Section 2, I shall lay the groundwork for the debate by explaining what a reason is and what a creation is. In Section 3, I shall argue that a classical theist cannot affirm that God creates the universe for a reason, thus conflicting with God’s perfect rationality.