[Avodah] Creation eternal heretical - hashkafa question

[Hankman]

I have been bothered by an idea that is not clear in my mind and could be on a fault line between heretical and permissible, or could actually be emes, but I am not sure where it lies or even if it is well thought out. If anyone can shed some light ...

Basic hashkafa dictates the fundamental reason for the creation and existence of the universe is the desire by HKB"H to exercise his hatava which requires a recipient. HKB"H is outside of zeman and He and his ratzon are never changing and "eternal" [for lack of a better word - quotes because this word implies time]. This requires that the existence of creation be always present [to comply with His ratzon to be maitiv] and "eternal" despite parshas Bereishis that seems to imply otherwise?

Perhaps this is delving into areas beyond human ken that we should not ask about [ma lefnim uma lachor]. Perhaps this is part of the reason not to translate the word bereishis in the sense of chronological order but as "beshvil reishis" as per rashi and the medroshim. What bothers me is that this notion leads to an "eternal universe" which seems rather "heretical." Perhaps this is part of the Rambam's thinking in Moreh when he says he could live with the idea [as per Aristo] of an eternal universe [ie, it is not heretical]? If the above is true, then being "eternal" is not a unique property of HKB"H since the universe shares that quality, the essential difference is who is the primal cause [borei] and what is the consequence [nivra]. Therefore "bereishis" is telling us not of a beginning but of who is the primal cause. But we creatures who per force are subject to time must see bereishis from a temporal perspective.  Is it possible to understand Bereishis in this manner or is this creeping into the heretical? Can anyone be marchiv on these thoughts or are they off the derech?

Kol Tuv

Chaim Manaster


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