Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Autonomy vs. Aseity
During my Ph.D. dissertation defense, a question was raised about my use of the term “aseity” and its application to my research. Believing The Personal Eternal Triune Creator to be the source and sustenance of all things, I used the theological word that means God is self-sufficient and independent; in short, He does not need us.
The applied principle of God’s separate status is imperative in a Hebraic-Christian view of social order. Often human governments and social rules have sought to argue for human autonomy, we, being a law unto ourselves (“auto” = self, “nomos” = law). Humans, left to themselves, will seek independence and self-sufficiency instead of seeing the beneficence to all people by dependence on Divine Directives. A few observations of both autonomy and aseity follow.
AUTONOMY (1) prioritizes law to self over others; (2) laws become only what the individual or group desires; (3) self-law is boundaryless, left to human will; (4) without boundaries, self-law becomes an arbiter and judge; (5) human judges will impose boundaries of their self-made laws; (6) whatever human power captures the law will dictate their law to others; and (7) autonomy then becomes tyranny.
ASEITY (1) only God is wholly self-sufficient and independent; (2) humans are dependent and insufficient in and of themselves; (3) neither creature nor creation imposes law without Sovereign oversight; (4) human laws draw their ethical boundaries from this Divine Source; (5) human nature is inherently corrupt and naturally seeks to transgress Heaven’s boundaries; (6) Eternal Standards are foundational for human law, limiting usurpation of cultural power; and (7) dependence upon The Personal Eternal Triune Creator benefits self and society, fostering liberty, limiting license.
The Christian bears the responsibility of displaying the logical outcomes of autonomy versus aseity. The Christian statesman holds in tension innate human dignity with people’s inherent corruption. Unconditional, sacrificial love is the praxis, protecting the weakest members of society because the strength of governance has been built through Heavenly virtue. In contrast, the state left to itself, becomes the proprietor of all things, creating its own servitude. In direct contrast, true human liberty is constrained by God’s laws, giving opportunity for human prosperity intended to provide charity to all.
Published in General
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members.
Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community
of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.
There are 6 comments.
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
Laws and governance from atheists one more dictatorial, cruel, biased and unfair than those created by believers.
Resenting the contingency inherent in our natures is the basis of original angelic rebellion and the motivation for biting the forbidden fruit in every era.
Arguments contra aseity beg the question.
Francis Schaeffer’s series How Should We Then Live? addresses this issue. Societies that are built on man’s desires and understandings have ultimately failed, even though they seemed successful for a long time. The foundations that don’t include the centrality of God’s “aseity” (new word for me) ultimately crumble.
The belief that man’s “autonomy” can eventually get it right, what is called the “utopian vision,” is doomed to fail. Indeed a Christian must struggle with the tension between knowing God’s ways and our fallen nature, a worthy effort that may bear some fruit today and much more later.
You are so right.
I used to show Schaeffer’s series to seniors in a Christian HS. Schaeffer changed my life when I was 16. I read all the books he had published by the time I was finished with HS. The seeds of his ideas have created a great harvest in the lives of many.
I know, because I am one.
I hope Heavy Water can understand this stuff.