Omnipresence facts for kids

Omnipresence or ubiquity means being present everywhere at the same time. When we talk about God, omnipresence is often seen as one of God's special qualities. The word ubiquity is also used for things that are found everywhere, like how smartphones are now ubiquitous.

Different religions have different ideas about how a supreme being is everywhere. In religions like Christianity and Judaism, God is separate from the universe but is still present everywhere within it. In pantheistic beliefs, God and the universe are seen as the same thing. In panentheistic beliefs, God is everywhere in the universe, but also exists beyond it.

Understanding Omnipresence

In many religions, especially Hinduism, there's a belief that a universal power, called Brahman, is everywhere. This power is seen as the source of everything that exists.

When we talk about God's omnipresence, it means God can be "present everywhere at the same time." This means there's no place where God's knowledge or power doesn't reach. It's like God knows everything and can act anywhere, all at once.

Some people describe God as having "Three O's": omnipotence (all-powerful), omniscience (all-knowing), and omnipresence (everywhere present). In Christianity, the idea of omnipresence is often explained through the "Trinity," where God is one being made of three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit, all of whom are omnipresent.

Omnipresence in Different Religions

Many ancient cultures, like the Vedic people and Native Americans, believed in a spirit or power that was everywhere. However, ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans usually worshipped gods tied to specific places or roles.

Some religions believe that all of existence is a part of God.

• Pantheism means God is the total sum of everything that exists.
• Panentheism means God is everywhere in existence, but also more than just existence itself.

Judaism

In traditional Judaism, the idea of God taking up physical space is usually rejected. However, some Jewish teachings, especially in Hasidic and Kabbalistic traditions, do believe in a form of panentheism, meaning God is present throughout all creation.

Islam

In Islam, both Shia and Sunni branches do not believe God is physically present everywhere. Instead, they believe that Allah's knowledge is omnipresent. This means Allah knows everything that happens, everywhere.

According to Islamic teachings, Allah is with everything, but not physically inside anything. He is separate from things but also controls them. A famous Islamic leader, Ali, explained it like this:

• "He is with everything but not in physical nearness."
• "He is different from everything but not in physical separation."

Christianity

In Christianity, God is believed to be omnipresent. This means God is both transcendent (separate from His creation) and immanent (involved in His creation). God is not mixed into the substance of creation, but He can interact with it however He chooses. He can appear anywhere and cannot be kept out of any place or object.

God's presence is continuous throughout all of creation. However, He might not show His presence in the same way to everyone at the same time. The Bible says God can be very close to a person (Psalm 46:1) and also present in every situation across all creation (Psalm 33:13-14).

The Bible shows that God is present in many parts of human life:

• God is naturally present in all parts of the natural world, in every cause and effect, and in every moment of natural history (Psalm 8:3).
• God was physically present in the Incarnation (Christianity) of His Son, Jesus Christ (Gospel of John 1:14).
• God is present in special places where people gather to remember Him, like in churches or during religious ceremonies (Genesis 28:16).

It's important to understand that omnipresence doesn't mean God takes up all space like a gas. Instead, it means God is fully present everywhere and can do different things in different places at the same time.

See also

In Spanish: Omnipresencia para niños

• Ubiquitous computing
• Panentheism in Judaism