Soulen and Soulen 20. The Mystery of the World
Jun 5, 2019
Dr. Richard Soulen delves into the mystery of existence, pondering why there is something instead of nothing. The podcast explores Eberhard Jungel's theological views, the concept of a first cause, desire's role in human nature, and the connection between divine self-expression and the creation of the universe.
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Jüngel's East German Theological Roots
- Eberhard Jüngel grew up in East Germany and chose theology despite his parents' opposition.
- Richard Soulen found Jüngel's work influential because they shared theological questions and mentors.
Being Poses The Core Metaphysical Question
- The universe provokes the fundamental question: why is there something rather than nothing?
- Soulen links this mystery to historical answers from Leibniz, Aristotle, and Genesis regarding God as first cause.
Science's 'Brute Fact' Response
- Some cosmologists call the question meaningless or unanswerable, treating existence as a brute fact.
- Soulen contrasts that dismissal with philosophical and theological attempts to explain a first cause.