Cosmopsychism and the Christian Doctrine of God

This book argues for the compatibility of cosmopsychism with an orthodox Christian understanding of God. It adopts a broadly classical understanding of God in which God and the world are distinct and the key attributes of God are retained. It thus contributes to discussions of cosmopsychism in philosophy of religion.In arguing for the compatibility of cosmopsychism with an orthodox account of Christian theism, the book serves two primary purposes. Firstly, it develops an account of cosmopsychism and theism in which God and the cosmic mind are distinct, and the cosmic mind is not divine. Secondly, in showing that cosmopsychism is compatible with a classical understanding of God, it demonstrates that cosmopsychism need not be construed as a rival to classical theism.In pursuit of these aims this book brings cosmopsychism into dialogue with several key elements of the Christian doctrine of God including the understanding of four of the divine attributes: omnibenevolence, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. The analysis seeks to dispel concerns that the cosmic mind would be a rival to God and seeks to show the unique theological merits that a cosmopsychist understanding of classical theism can yield.Cosmopsychism and the Christian Doctrine of God is essential reading for scholars in philosophy of religion, especially those focussing on the understanding of God. It is also ideal for Christian analytic theologians and for researchers in the philosophy of mind.