This Chat about “God & Time” LITERALLY changed my life.

Tackling the Philosophy of God and Time with Dr. Ryan Mullins: An In-Depth Interview

Hey everyone! I’m excited to share some recent insights from an engaging and thought-provoking interview with Dr. Ryan Mullins, an expert in the philosophy of time and theology. This session delves deep into complex subjects such as divine temporality, metaphysical frameworks, open theism, Molinism, and even some fun discussions about metal music. This is a bit of a long read, but I promise it’s worth it if you’re interested in these deep yet fascinating topics. For those who prefer video, you can also watch our full conversation on YouTube.

Introduction to the Conversation

Have I got a treat for you today. Time is tricky, and our language about time even more so. Augustine famously said that he knows exactly what time is until you ask him to define it. In my view, Dr. Ryan Mullins is a leading figure when it comes to clarifying our language, thinking, and definitions around what time is, especially from a theological perspective.

Dr. Mullins has a lot of academic work under his belt, yet he’s incredibly down-to-earth and delightful to talk to. More importantly, his views around time, out of all biblical and philosophical options, seem to honor the pages of Scripture most faithfully.

Diving into the Philosophy of Time

We kick things off with Augustine’s struggle to define time, and Dr. Mullins helps explain why our language around time is so flabby. Time’s definitions are tangled in metaphors, and attempts to explain it often fall into circular reasoning. He also dives into the difference between the reductionist theory and the absolute theory of time.

In simple terms, the reductionist theory tries to reduce time to something concrete but often ends up smuggling time back into the definition. Meanwhile, the absolute theory treats time as a substance in itself, a feature that makes change possible and unifies moments. This aligns more closely with our intuitive understanding of the world.

Presentism vs. Eternalism

We also explore critical ontological theories like presentism and eternalism. Presentism posits that only the present moment exists, while eternalism suggests that all moments, past, and future, exist equally. Our discussion leans heavily toward preferring presentism for its intuitive coherence with our everyday experiences.

One fascinating part of our discussion touches on why concepts like divine temporality are more reasonable and less fraught with philosophical issues. For instance, the idea that God is temporal, experiencing moments sequentially like us, seems more consistent with scriptural depictions of God’s interactions with the world.

God’s Relationship with Time

A hefty section of our conversation is spent discussing why divine temporality makes better sense both philosophically and scripturally. God’s freedom, rationality, and knowledge seem to fit more snugly within a temporal framework. Throughout the Bible, God interacts with time, anticipates future events, and responds to human actions. This dynamic interaction suggests temporality rather than timelessness.

Addressing the Foreknowledge Debate

One of the more heated topics is the debate around God’s foreknowledge. Dr. Mullins expertly dissects the Molinist view, which posits that God has exhaustive foreknowledge through middle knowledge, versus the Open Theist view that holds the future as open with genuine possibilities. We even touch upon the implications for human free will and divine risk management, with insights from cognitive science backing up concerns around deterministic frameworks leading to passivity.

Metal Music: A Shared Passion

In a lighter but equally passionate turn, Dr. Mullins and I delve into our love for metal music. Distortion level is our litmus test for distinguishing rock from metal. We share recommendations, with Dr. Mullins naming bands like Make Them Suffer, We Butter The Bread with Butter, and Electric Callboy. For me, it’s been a fun exploration, blending heavy, rhythmic energy with deep, melodic undertones.

Upcoming Works by Dr. Ryan Mullins

Dr. Mullins has recently published “Eternal in Love: A Little Book about a Big God,” aimed at making complex theological ideas more accessible and interactive. He’s also working on “From Divine Time Maker to Divine Watchmaker,” to be released in January 2025, further elaborating on divine temporality.

Closing Thoughts

This session was personally enriching and intellectually stimulating. If you’re grappling with the philosophical and theological nuances of time and God’s relationship to it, you’ll find this conversation valuable.

I highly recommend watching the full interview on YouTube for a deeper dive into these subjects. Thank you for reading, and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Don’t forget to watch the full discussion on YouTube and check out the links in the description for more resources, including our metal band recommendations!

Stay curious, and God bless!