On this 14th day of Lent we will explore the Spatial Paradox in refence to the concepts of God, incarnation and the paradoxical frog, a creature that exhibits extraordinarily large eggs and tadpoles relative to that of the mature frog. The contrast between the small adult frog and the relatively large reproductive structures might be considered a paradox .Thanks to Chris Booth from the Sonderverse community for the inspiration for this topic given during the OddSonder Broadcast on Twitch last Monday night.
The idea of the vastness of God being held within the person of Jesus Christ is a theological concept that is often explored in Christian theology. The paradox here lies in the belief that Jesus, as the incarnation of God, embodies the fullness of the divine within the limitations of human form. This concept is rooted in the Christian understanding of the Incarnation, where God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of John, for example, expresses this paradox in the opening verses (John 1:14, NIV): “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” This suggests that the infinite and transcendent God chose to be contained within the finite and limited human form of Jesus Christ.
The spatial containment paradox is an attempt to grapple with the idea that the Creator of the vast universe could be present within the confines of a single human being. It emphasizes the mysterious and incomprehensible nature of the divine.
The paradoxical frog becoming smaller as it grows to maturity introduces another layer of complexity to the analogy. In some species of frogs, there is indeed a phenomenon known as the “paradoxical growth” or “size reversal” where individuals start off larger as tadpoles and then become smaller as they mature into adult frogs. This stands in contrast to the typical pattern of growth observed in many other organisms.
In a metaphorical sense, one might draw a parallel between this phenomenon and the Christian concept of humility and self-emptying found in the New Testament. Philippians 2:6-8 (NIV) captures this idea in relation to Jesus: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Just as the paradoxical frog becomes smaller in its mature form, the Christian narrative suggests that Jesus, though in the form of God, humbled himself to take on the nature of a servant and experienced a form of self-emptying.
Again, it’s crucial to approach such analogies with caution, recognizing that they are creative explorations and not direct equivalences. Theological concepts and biological phenomena operate on different planes, and any connection drawn between them is symbolic rather than literal.
The Jewish concept of “Tzimtzum” is a Kabbalistic idea that contributes to the understanding of God’s relationship with the universe. Tzimtzum, which means “contraction” or “constriction” in Hebrew, is a concept found in Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism. According to this concept, in order for the created world to exist, God, who is infinite and omnipresent, voluntarily contracted or withdrew a part of their divine presence to create a space for the universe to exist independently. This withdrawal allowed for the existence of finite and separate entities, providing room for free will and the possibility of a meaningful relationship between God and creation. Tzimtzum highlights the idea that God’s vastness is compatible with the existence of a diverse and dynamic universe, echoing the paradoxical nature of containing the infinite within finite boundaries, similar to the paradox of the size changes in our afore mentions Frog , another example could be that of the TARDIS being “bigger on the inside.” A great conversation about this concept is in the Deep Faith Nine Podcast S2E15 Playing God , where Myself, Rev Dr Andrew Dutney and Rev Amanda Nicholas explore this concept and others.
The phenomenon of the TARDIS being “bigger on the inside” is often referred to as an “extradimensional” or “dimensional transcendental” property. While this isn’t a paradox in the strict sense, it does involve a departure from conventional spatial understanding.
One might relate this to the concept of a “spatial paradox” or an “impossible space.” In everyday experience, an object’s exterior size is expected to correlate with its interior volume. However, the TARDIS challenges this expectation by having an interior that exceeds its external dimensions.
While this isn’t a paradox in the traditional sense, it’s a fascinating fictional concept that defies our normal understanding of space and dimensions. The “bigger on the inside” aspect is one of the unique and iconic features of the TARDIS in the “Doctor Who” series.
The concept of spaces or dimensions that transcend our usual understanding is not explicitly addressed in a straightforward manner in the Bible. However, there are passages that touch upon the idea of the divine and the mysterious nature of God’s dwelling.
One possible reference that could be loosely associated with the idea of transcendence is Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple. In 1 Kings 8:27 (NIV), Solomon acknowledges the vastness and incomprehensibility of God:
“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!”
While this verse doesn’t directly describe a spatial paradox or an object being “bigger on the inside,” it does convey the idea that God’s presence is not limited by physical dimensions.
It’s important to note that the concept of a spatial paradox like the TARDIS being “bigger on the inside” is a science fiction concept and not explicitly addressed in religious texts. The reference provided is a loose association and not a direct parallel.
Thanks again the Chris for the inspiration of this concept and if you are so inclined why not check out our other fascinating conversations on OddSonder!