Editing Immanence (section)

==Christianity==

=== Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Christianity ===
{{Attributes of God}}
According to Christian theology, the transcendent [[God]], who cannot be approached or seen in essence or being, becomes immanent primarily in the [[God-man (Christianity)|God-man]] [[Jesus]] the [[Christ]], who is the [[incarnate]] Second Person of the [[Trinity]]. In [[Byzantine Rite]] theology the immanence of God is expressed as the [[Hypostasis (philosophy)|hypostases]] or energies of God, who in his essence is incomprehensible and transcendent. In Catholic theology, Christ and the Holy Spirit immanently reveal themselves; God the Father only reveals himself immanently vicariously through the Son and Spirit, and the divine nature, the [[Godhead (Christianity)|Godhead]] is wholly transcendent and unable to be comprehended.

This is expressed in [[Paul of Tarsus|St. Paul]]'s letter to the Philippians, where he writes:
{{Blockquote|who, although He  existed in the  form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming  obedient to the point of death, even  death on a cross.<ref>Philippians 2:6–8, (NASB)</ref>}}

The Holy Spirit is also expressed as an immanence of God.
{{Blockquote|and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=49&chapter=3&verse=22&version=31&context=verse Luke 3:22], [[BibleGateway.com]] ([[New International Version]])</ref>}}

The immanence of the triune God is celebrated in the Catholic Church, traditional Protestant Churches, and [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Churches]] during the liturgical feast of the [[Theophany|Theophany of God]], known in Western Christianity as the [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]].

[[Pope Pius X]] wrote at length about philosophical-theological controversies over immanence in his encyclical ''[[Pascendi dominici gregis]]''.

=== Mormonism ===
According to [[Latter Day Saint movement|Latter Day Saint]] theology, all of material creation is filled with immanence, known as the [[Light of Christ (Latter Day Saints)|light of Christ]]. It is also responsible for the intuitive conscience born into man. The Light of Christ is the source of intellectual and spiritual enlightenment, and is the means by which God is in and through all things.<ref>Doctrine and Covenants Section 88:6-13. [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/88?lang=eng churchofjesuschrist.org]</ref> LDS scriptures identify the divine Light with the mind of God, the source of all truth and conveyor of the characteristics of the divine nature through God's goodness. The experienced brilliance of God reflects the “fullness” of this spirit within God's being.<ref>Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon & Sons, 1891) particularly chap. V. [https://books.google.com/books?id=_1MUx7kjctMC&dq=Parley+P.+Pratt+Key+to+the+Science+of+Theology&pg=PA1 Google Books Search]</ref> Similarly, mankind can incorporate this spiritual light or divine mind and thus become one with God.<ref>{{lds|Doctrine and Covenants|dc|93|6|18}}; {{lds|Doctrine and Covenants|dc|50|24}}; John 17:22; cf. John 1:16 and 2 Corinthians 3:18</ref> This immanent spirit of light bridges the scientific and spiritual conceptualizations of the universe.<ref>B.H. Roberts "Divine Immanence", The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth year, pp. 1-34.John A. Widstoe, Joseph Smith as Scientist (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968) [originally 1908] pp. 136-137.</ref>