Plantinga Chapter Two

In church and Sunday school when I was younger it was always hinted at that somehow God was lonely or bored and so created. In the chapter about creation, Plantinga points out that the Holy Trinity is in a constant state of perichoresis and is completely fulfilled in this relationship - no need for anyone else . Thus, God created us out of a love for creating and a joy in doing it. As a human in a fallen world, that statement is hard for me to comprehend (obviously). This of course, explains both our need for deep and meaningful companionship in our lives and our passion for creating things of our own, which is good, because it is exactly what God commands us to do.

One thing that Plantinga failed to mention but I feel is worth commenting on is hardship in the Garden. Adam was created first, and God had him name all the animals before giving Adam what he truly desired - another human. Scientists think that it would have taken him ten to 100 years to name each and every animal. And in that time he was no doubt looking for a companion that would understand and communicate with him, but to his detriment, found none. Then and only then did God create Eve, and finally Adam could say "you're like me!" and be fulfilled. So, the point here is that not only was work intended for us by God, but so is a bit of healthy struggle for our own good - Adam wouldn't have appreciated Eve half as much had she been there with him all along. And so it is for us and the things we want and need. Sometimes they are held back from us for our future benefit.

As a quick aside, Plantinga's seventh point on the meaning of the Christian doctrine of creation rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it's just his word choice. Maybe it's just that it shouldn't even be mentioned because it's so intrinsic. I don't really know. I think community is extremely important and we as Western society don't put enough emphasis on it in living our lives.