The universe is multiple and changing, and God is transcendent above that
Editorial verification status: This claim atom is extracted from an explanatory audio-visual source, and it has now been linked to the closest books within Shahrur’s project at the book level. For precise academic quotation, consult the original book and the original episode together.
Formulation of the claim
Shahrur affirms that the universe is founded on multiplicity, motion, and change, whereas God is transcendent above these qualities. This is the fundamental difference between the divine existence and the cosmic existence.
Explanation
Here he builds a clear binary: God is fixed, while the universe is in flux. The universe cannot be like God because it is subject to the laws of change and multiplicity. This idea is not merely a physical description, but rather a doctrinal basis for interpreting the verses of transcendence. Thus, change itself becomes a sign of createdness.
Its place in the episode’s argument
It serves the central argument that understanding existence begins with distinguishing between what is divine and what is cosmic.
Scope of the claim
It does not mean that all change is negative, but rather that it pertains to creatures, not to the Creator.
Brief witness
“Existence is multiple and changing, whereas God is transcendent above multiplicity and change.”
Related links
- Shahrur - polytheism
- Shahrur - the Qur’an
- Shahrur - Islam and faith