Divine presence

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Divine presence, presence of God, or simply presence is a concept in religion, spirituality, and theology that deals with God's omnipotent abilities to be "present" with human beings. God is understood to be capable of interfacing with the natural world, and more importantly, with human being, such that He would be able to hold some influence with each and all human being(s).

According to the common theological view, God is omnipresent and telepathic —He can read, see, interpret, evaluate, and understand all human thought and concept, and can project his will in various ways. Such ways are commonly said to be quite subtle (cf. divine illumination), but religious texts typically deal with important occurrences wherein God deals directly with particular beings.

There are three distinct but related concepts of divine presence:

• God's presence in nature
• God's presence among all human beings
• God's presence in each human being

In theological terms, God's presence in nature is irrelevant next to his presence among humanity. Such presence could be in the mind, but an unseen being that influences human perception would be perceived by human beings as an external, environmental, or natural entity.

The concept is shared by many religious traditions, is found in a number of independently-derived conceptualizations, and each of these has culturally distinct terminology. Some of the various relevant concepts and terms are:

• Shekhinah - Judaism's term for a presence in a holy place (Tabernacle), and due to the symbolism of the tabernacle as representational of the human body or being, it likewise refers to the presence of God in the human being.
• The Holy Spirit - (See also spirit, holiness) - Christianity
• Numen - Latin term for "presence", used historically to refer to a Roman religious concept
• Theophany - the overt appearance of God to a person
• Aum - The Buddhist and Hindu (Indian religions) name that has evokes the concepts of the Oneness of God and the universal omnipresence of the creator deity.
• Presence of God (Catholicism)
• Light (theology) - an aspect of divine presence with qualities of illumination: thought, intellect, knowledge, insight, wisdom, being, divine love
  • Brahman - Hinduism, the superpresent properties of the creator deity, Brahma, understood to manifest itself as "light" within the human being.
  • Inner light - term used in various religions to refer to the presence of God as a "light". The Religious Society of Friends regards this concept as a fundamental belief.
  • Immanence - related term used in religious mysticism

Other beings as a divine presence

• Angel - typically a transcendental being, but in some usage may refer to a manifestation of God under a pseudo-identity that has human personality, and can therefore interact with a person without revealing himself overtly
• Immanuel - "God [is] with us," is a Biblical concept that deals with the concept of divine presence, often used by Christians as a title for Jesus
• Elohim - various theorized meanings such as "the host of angels," or an indication of God as a being with many aspects and manifestations
• Angel of the Presence - name to refer to the angel of the Exodus

A related concept is the ability of Jesus to be present in human life —a Trinitarian concept that may be specifically indicated or described by various terms:

• Christ - is largely a term which identifies the divine presence with the being Jesus (or the concept thereof) such that there is a union (conceptually or literally) between Jesus and the Holy Spirit (ie. divine presence) and thus God (ie. "Trinity")
  • Eucharist or Holy Communion - Christian, largely Roman Catholic theology involving Jesus' presence at the Last Supper and its symbolism with regard to the presence of God.
  • Real presence - Christian concept of Jesus as having the ability to be present in human life
  • Consubstantiation - Christian metaphysical concept
  • Transubstantiation - Roman Catholic theology

See also

• Divinity
• Ho'oponopono (Morrnah section)
• Omnipotence
• Omniscience