Quick Answer
Omnipresence is the theistic claim that God is present to all reality, not by occupying every location as a body does but by sustaining and knowing all things.
Key Takeaways
- ✦It is not spatial extension.
- ✦It is often linked to creation and providence.
- ✦It raises questions about divine presence to evil.
Question
How can God be everywhere without taking up space?
Quick Answer
Classical theists distinguish presence through causal and cognitive relation from the location of a physical object.
Philosophical Issue
The doctrine expresses maximal intimacy with the world while preserving divine transcendence. Critics ask how that presence relates to suffering and divine hiddenness.
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Archive references
Sources
- 01Divine AttributesBy Internet Encyclopedia of PhilosophyConsult source
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Reviewed by ZHAIBIAN AI Editorial Review · 2026-08-23