The light-bearing logos: The connection between spirit and matter

From the field of Natural Theology, this dissertation provides a description of the connection between the realm of Spirit/Light/ Logos and the realm of dark matter in terms of Light as the inter-connective element. By incorporating an understanding of the nature of matter as provided by contemporary science, rather than mechanistic science, the connection is presented in natural rather than supernatural terms. Contemporary science, in particular, Quantum Electrodynamics, Complexity Theory, and Neuroscience describe matter as energetic, in-formed, light-filled, inter-relational, adaptable, and capable of producing emergent forms which transcend previous states. This is in contrast to Mechanistic Science which historically has philosophically defined matter as hard, inert, having no internal power of its own and incapable of exerting power. Historical philosophic and religious cosmologies will also be presented which had described the world of matter as en-souled, energetic, generative, light-filled, and reflective of the divine logos/reason. Such cosmologies were set aside in favor of what would become the dominant worldview of first, the Aristotelian-Thomistic model and later the current Mechanistic-Supernatural worldview. Supernatural Theism was combined with the Mechanistic model of Nature in the seventeenth century and its adoption was sponsored by the Church. There is a tendency in modern biblical commentaries to reflect the Mechanistic-Supernatural worldview, rendering the connection of Spirit upon matter in "Supernatural" terms or simply to remain silent on the nature of the connection all together. This dissertation seeks to advance the field by providing a view of matter as light-filled, in-formed, and transcendent, with Light as the inter-connective element between Spirit/Light/Logos and matter. Form critical exegesis will be provided for sample texts which present the connection between Spirit and matter.