How Is That Possible for God to Be Transcendent and Immanent?

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On the face of it, the characteristics of transcendence and immanence appear to be in conflict. A transcendent is one who is beyond perception, independent of the universe, and wholly “other” when compared to us. There is no point of comparison, no points of commonality. In contrast, an immanent God is one which exists within — within us, within the universe, etc. — and, hence, very much a part of our existence. There are all sorts of commonalities and points of comparison. How can these two qualities exist simultaneously? 

Origins of Transcendence and Immanence

The idea of a transcendent God has roots both in Judaism and in Neoplatonic philosophy. The Old Testament, for example, records a prohibition against idols, and this can be interpreted as an attempt to emphasize the wholly “otherness” of God which cannot be represented physically. In this context, God is so utterly alien that it's wrong to attempt to portray it any sort of concrete fashion. Neoplatonic philosophy, in a similar manner, emphasized the idea that God is so pure and perfect that it completely transcended all of our categories, ideas, and concepts.

The idea of an immanent God can also be traced to both Judaism and other Greek philosophers. Many stories in the Old Testament depict a God who is very active in human affairs and the working of the universe. Christians, especially mystics, have often described a God who works within them and whose presence they can perceive immediately and personally. Various Greek philosophers have also discussed the idea of a God who is somehow united with our souls, such that this union can be understood and perceived by those who study and learn enough.

The idea of God being transcendent is very common when it comes to the mystical traditions of various religions. Mystics who seek a union or at least contact with God are seeking a transcendent God — a God so totally “other” and so totally different from what we normally experience that a special mode of experience and perception is required.

Such a God is not immanent in our normal lives, otherwise, mystical training and mystical experiences would not be necessary to learn about God. In fact, the mystical experiences are themselves generally described as “transcendent” and not amenable to the normal categories of thought and language which would allow those experiences to be communicated to others.

Irresolvable Tension

Clearly, there is some conflict between these two characteristics. The more God’s transcendence is emphasized, the less God’s immanence can be understood and vice-versa. For this reason, many philosophers have tried to downplay or even deny one attribute or the other. Kierkegaard, for example, focused primarily upon God’s transcendence and rejected God’s immanence, This has been a common position for many modern theologians.

Moving in the other direction, we find Protestant theologian Paul Tillich and those who have followed his example in describing God as our “ultimate concern,” such that we could not “know” God without “participating in” God. This is a very immanent God whose transcendence is ignored entirely — if, indeed, such a God can be described as transcendent at all.

The need for both qualities can be seen in the other characteristics normally attributed to God. If God is a person and works within human history, then it would make little sense for us not to be able to perceive and communicate with God. Moreover, if God is infinite, then God must exist everywhere — including within us and within the universe. Such a God must be immanent.

On the other hand, if God is absolutely perfect beyond all experience and understanding, then God must also be transcendent. If God is timeless (outside of time and space) and unchangeable, then God cannot also be immanent within us, beings who are within time. Such a God must be wholly “other,” transcendent to everything we know.

Because both of these qualities follow readily from other qualities, it would be difficult to abandon either without also needing to abandon or at least seriously modify many other common attributes of God. Some theologians and philosophers have been willing to make such a move, but most have not — and the result is a continuation of both of these attributes, constantly in tension.

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Cline, Austin. "How Is That Possible for God to Be Transcendent and Immanent?" Learn Religions, Aug. 26, 2020, learnreligions.com/god-is-transcendent-and-immanent-251063. Cline, Austin. (2020, August 26). How Is That Possible for God to Be Transcendent and Immanent? Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/god-is-transcendent-and-immanent-251063 Cline, Austin. "How Is That Possible for God to Be Transcendent and Immanent?" Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/god-is-transcendent-and-immanent-251063 (accessed March 19, 2024).