Presence in the Dark

Joint Attention and the Varying Modes of Being Aware of God's Presence

Bibliographic Data

ID3139147
AuthorsJuan Camilo Espejo-Serna (0000-0002-1717-6630, Universidad de La Sabana, corresponding author), John Anderson P-Duarte (0000-0002-8620-8245, Universidad de La Frontera), Jorge Eduardo Arbeláez (0009-0007-7080-840X, Universidad de La Sabana)
Year2024
Volume15
Issue6
Pages701
Publication date2024-06-06
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel15060701
OpenAlexW4399385886
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited17

This paper examines the phenomenon of joint attention and its relevance in understanding the modes of awareness of the presence of God. It explores the perspectives of Eleonore Stump and Andrew Pinsent, as well as the challenge raised by Donald Bungum, with the aim of reaching a better understanding of a distinct way of being 'moved by God in a divine way'. According to Stump and Pinsent, joint attention can deepen our understanding of our relationship with God, emphasizing the importance of sharing attention with Him and making better sense of the way humans may be moved in a divine way. However, Bungum challenges this view by suggesting the possibility of closeness without explicit awareness. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of awareness and the presence of God in our spiritual lives, for our connection with God can manifest in diverse ways different from traditional accounts of explicit awareness. We suggest that a view of joint attention centered in action may be more suitable for an attempt to make sense of what 'to be moved in a divine way' amounts to

Aesthetics · Emotions and Moral Behavior · Engineering · Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs · Philosophy · Psychology · Theology and Philosophy of Evil

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