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Associates Quote by Quentin S. Crisp

“There's a possible qualification I can make here about a non-pantheist god that is in some way tenable, and that is the idea of a god that has in some way discharged the universe from its own substance (I associate this with the word 'tzimtzum'), possibly even by a form of suicide - a suicide that…” quote by Quentin S. Crisp
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“There's a possible qualification I can make here about a non-pantheist god that is in some way tenable, and that is the idea of a god that has in some way discharged the universe from its own substance (I associate this with the word 'tzimtzum'), possibly even by a form of suicide - a suicide that might have been the Big Bang.”

Quentin S. Crisp

About This Quote

Source Book: Theology of Kabbalah, 2021

The quote suggests a concept of a deity who voluntarily withdraws its presence, allowing the universe to exist independently, likened to a cosmic self‑sacrifice.

In simple terms: A god may have stepped back, letting creation be its own.

Key Takeaway

Consider the implications of a self‑limiting creator.

Themes

theology cosmology creativity self‑sacrifice

Mood

reflective inquisitive speculative

Type

philosophical theological

When to use this quote

  • philosophical discourse
  • spiritual contemplation
  • academic seminars
  • personal meditation
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

Kabbalistic tzimtzum divine withdrawal existential autonomy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does a self‑limiting deity affect moral responsibility?
  • What are the limits of divine intervention?
A Different Perspective

The idea is speculative and not widely accepted in mainstream theology.

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