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Article 2: Whether Everything Is Subject to the Providence of God?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2024
The term “providence” refers to God’s detailed rule of the universe, to His provision for all things. Why should He pay attention to details? In particular, why should He take notice of all our doings and govern what happens to us? According to a certain common view of God, He doesn’t. At most He exercises “general” providence, for example setting up space and time and the sorts of regularities that occupy physicists, but not paying attention to us. Our ability to govern even our own small affairs is limited. How then can a Being in charge of the whole universe take notice when each sparrow falls, and number each hair on our heads? Besides, the great among us do not trouble themselves much with the affairs of their underlings. So wouldn’t God be above all that sort of thing?
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