Theologies of Creation Creatio Ex Nihilo and Its New Rivals [Paperback]

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 universes origin to divine activity, and many have said God created something from absolute nothingness. The venerable doctrine of creatio ex nihiloespecially emphasizes Gods initial creating activity. Some contributors to this book explore new reasons creatio ex nihiloshould 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 Nihiloand Intensifying the Vulnerability of God - Philip Clayton
3. Nothingsomething on My Mind: Creatio ex Nihiloor ex Profundis? - Catherine Keller
4. The Fecundity of Nothing: A Proposal of Creatio ex Potentiain 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: Its Not about Nothing - Richard Rice
9. Creatio ex Amore! - l#§