The Timelesness of Eternity from a Neuroscientific and Trinitarian Perspective

Abstract

This paper addresses three issues. In the first part the relation between consciousness and time is being discussed as it developed in the history of philosophy and theology. It covers Plato, Plotinus and St. Augustine. It continues in the second part to describe that time it is being perceived in the mystical consciousness as eternity which means in this context timelessness. Examples from world religions are offered. The question is asked if this eternity in mystical experience can be understood as relating to the eternity of God or as a mere self-experience. In order to settle this question mystical experiences as being interpreted from the angle of modern neuroscience as the result of self-organizing processes of meditation that can be described as attractors. In the final third part it is suggested to discern the eternity of mystical states of mind as timelessness from eternity as an attribute of the triune God.

Keywords: Time, eternity, trinity, hinduism, buddhism, islam, nunc stans, mysticism, neuroscience, attractor, chaos theory, consciousness.