Sun Theology
🌞 What is Sonnentheologie?
"Sonnentheologie" (literally Sun Theology) is a poetic term that describes a spiritual-theological outlook where God is like the sun, radiating light, warmth, and life freely and unconditionally—without requiring anything in return.
It's contrasted with "Lohnstheologie" (reward theology), which focuses on merit, sin, and divine reward or punishment—essentially a more transactional view of God.
☀️ Core Ideas in Sonnentheologie:
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God gives like the sun shines:
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God’s grace and love are abundant, freely given, and not based on human performance.
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Just as the sun shines on everyone, regardless of whether they "deserve" it, so too does God’s being and presence pour out onto all creation.
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Non-dual spirituality:
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Especially in Eckhart, the divine is not separate from the soul. The soul contains a "divine spark" (Seelenfünklein) that is one with God.
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The soul becomes what it contemplates: pure, radiant, and unified.
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Mystical union:
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The highest goal isn't reward or punishment, but union with God, beyond concepts of good and evil, merit or guilt.
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God is found in pure being, in stillness, and in the present moment, not as a being among beings, but as Being itself (Ipsum esse).
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Non-possessive love:
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God gives without needing—this is the model for true love and ethics: non-possessive, non-utilitarian.
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🆚 Lohnstheologie (Reward Theology)
