The Boundless Love of God: Expanding Our Cosmic Horizons

By Adis Duderija, New Age Islam 18 September 2024 "We Cannot Believe In The Mandate Of A God Who Is Eternally And Universally Loving And Also Believe It Is A Love That Could Be Confined To A Universe As Narrow As Our Own Horizons." - E. Kolbell This above statement by E. Kolbell challenges us to expand our conception of divine love beyond the limited boundaries of human understanding and experience. It invites us to contemplate a love so vast and all-encompassing that it transcends not just our earthly divisions, but potentially even the confines of our known universe. As we grapple with this idea, we are called to re-examine our beliefs about the nature of God, the scope of creation, and our place within it all. Throughout history, humans have often conceptualised Godin our own image - as a being with human-like traits, emotions, and limitations. We’ve projected our own tribal mentalities onto the divine, imagining a deity who favours certain groups over others or limits blessings to a chosen few. But if we truly believe in an eternal, all-powerful, and universally loving God, we must be willing to let go of these limited perspectives. The very notion of a God whose love is eternal and universal is incompatible with the idea that this love could be constrained by the boundaries of human knowledge or experience. Our understanding of the universe has expanded dramatically over the centuries, from a flat Earth at the centre of creation to our current model of a vast, expanding cosmos filled with billions of galaxies. Yet even this awe-inspiring view may be just a fraction of what actually exists. If we accept the premise of an infinitely loving God, we must also be open to the possibility that this love extends far beyond what we can currently comprehend or observe. This challenges us to broaden our spiritual and philosophical horizons in several key ways: 1. Embracing Cosmic Humility Recognising the potential vastness of God’s love requires a profound sense of humility. We must acknowledge that our place in the cosmos may be far less central or unique than many religious traditions have assumed. The Earth is not the centre of the universe, and humanity may not be the sole focus of divine attention and care. This realisation can be unsettling, as it forces us to confront our own cosmic insignificance. However, it also offers a chance for spiritual growth. By embracing our humility, we open ourselves to a more expansive and awe-inspiring vision of creation. We become part of something far grander than ourselves or our narrow tribal identities. 2. Redefining Divine Love If God’s love extends beyond our known universe, we must reconsider what we mean by “love” in a divine context. Human love is often conditional, limited, and subject to change. Divine love, by contrast, must be unconditional, limitless, and eternal. It may operate on principles and scales that are difficult for us to comprehend. This expanded notion of love challenges us to move beyond anthropomorphic conceptions of God. Instead of a personal deity who loves in human-like ways, we might contemplate a fundamental force of love and compassion that permeates all of existence. This doesn’t necessarily negate the possibility of a personal relationship with the divine, but it does invite us to expand our understanding of what that relationship might entail. 3. Expanding Our Notion of Life and Consciousness If God’s love is truly universal, it may encompass forms of life and consciousness radically different from our own. Our current scientific understanding suggests that life could exist in environments very unlike Earth - from the methane seas of Titan to hypothetical dark matter galaxies. And these are just the possibilities we can imagine based on our limited knowledge. A truly universal divine love would embrace all these potential forms of life, as well as any others that might exist beyond our current ability to conceive. This challenges us to expand our circle of moral consideration and spiritual kinship far beyond our own species or planet. 4. Rethinking Salvation and Cosmic Purpose Many religious traditions focus on human salvation or enlightenment as the central cosmic drama. But in the context of a boundless divine love, we must consider that our spiritual journey may be just one small part of a much grander cosmic narrative. Perhaps the evolution of consciousness and the growth of love and compassion are playing out on countless worlds and in myriad forms throughout the universe. Our role might be to contribute to this vast tapestry of spiritual development, rather than being its sole focus. 5. Fostering Universal Compassion If we accept that God’s love extends to all corners of the cosmos, it follows that our own capacity for love and compassion should continually expand as well. This challenges us to move beyond not just national or ethnic divisions, but even the boundaries of our own species and planet. While we may never have direct contact with life beyond Earth, cultivating a sense of cosmic compassion can profoundly impact how we treat our fellow humans, other species, and our planet’s ecosystems. It encourages us to see all of creation as interconnected and worthy of care and respect. 6. Embracing Mystery and Wonder Contemplating a love that transcends our universe inevitably leads us into realms of mystery and wonder. We must become comfortable with not having all the answers and with the possibility that reality may be far stranger and more marvellous than we can imagine. This stance of cosmic openness and wonder can enrich our spiritual lives, fostering a sense of awe and gratitude for the unfathomable vastness of creation. It encourages ongoing exploration, both scientific and spiritual, as we seek to expand our understanding of the cosmos and our place within it. 7. Reimagining Religious Traditions The concept of a truly universal divine love challenges many traditional religious narratives and doctrines. It calls us to reinterpret ancient wisdom in light of our expanding cosmic perspective. This doesn’t mean abandoning religious traditions, but rather evolving them to embrace a more expansive vision of God and creation. For example, Christian concepts like incarnation or salvation history might be reimagined on a cosmic scale. Buddhist ideas about interconnectedness could be extended to encompass the entire universe. Islamic teachings on the oneness of God could be explored in relation to the unity of all existence across multiple universes. 8. Bridging Science and Spirituality Contemplating God’s love beyond our cosmic horizons naturally leads us to engage with scientific discoveries about the nature of the universe. Rather than seeing science and spirituality as opposing forces, this perspective encourages us to view them as complementary ways of exploring the same vast reality. Scientific inquiry can expand our understanding of the cosmos, providing ever more awe-inspiring vistas for spiritual contemplation. Conversely, a spirituality grounded in cosmic wonder can motivate scientific exploration and imbue it with a sense of profound meaning and purpose. Conclusion: E. Kolbell’s statement challenges us to dramatically expand our conception of divine love and our place in the cosmos. It invites us to embrace a spirituality of cosmic humility, wonder, and ever-expanding compassion. This perspective doesn’t diminish the importance of human experience or negate the possibility of a personal relationship with the divine. Rather, it places our spiritual journey within a much grander cosmic context. As we contemplate a love that transcends our known universe, we are called to continually broaden our horizons - intellectually, spiritually, and ethically. We are challenged to grow in our capacity for wonder, compassion, and openness to mystery. This expansive vision of divine love offers a path to greater unity among humans, as we recognize our shared place in a vast and awe-inspiring cosmos. Ultimately, believing in a God of truly universal love requires us to let go of our limited perspectives and tribal mentalities. It invites us to participate in a cosmic drama far grander than we had imagined, while imbuing our earthly lives with profound meaning and purpose. As we expand our horizons to embrace this boundless love, we may find ourselves transformed - becoming more loving, more wonder-filled, and more attuned to the unfathomable beauty of existence. Checkout Dr. Adis Duderija’s personal website at: https://dradisduderija.com/ ---- A decades old patron of New Age Islam, Dr Adis Duderija is a Senior Lecturer in the Study of Islam and Society, School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science; Senior Fellow Centre for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, Griffith University | Nathan | Queensland | Australia. His forthcoming books are ( co-edited)- Shame, Modesty, and Honora in Islam and Interfaith Engagement Beyond the Divide (Springer) URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/boundless-love-god-cosmic-horizons/d/133225 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism