Ilia Delio "The Not Yet God" - an introduction
- Ilia Delio
- Jul 24, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 25, 2025
In April 2024 Ilia Delio spoke at the Aspen Chapel, Colorado, about her book, The Not Yet God. She speaks for about 30 minutes after the introduction and answers questions afterwards.
Here are the slides and notes from her presentation.
Toward a Relational Future
In April 2024, Ilia Delio spoke at Aspen Chapel about her book The Not Yet God, offering listeners a contemplative doorway into how theology, science, and relationality intersect in our time.
The conversation she opens is crucial today: how do we think of God in a world shaped by quantum theory, evolution, and ever shifting connection?
We invite you to walk with us through some of the themes she lifts - not as fixed dogmas, but as living questions for our journey.
God as “Not Yet” - Cosmic Becoming
Delio frames God not as a static being waiting in a heavenly shell, but as the horizon of possibility: The Not Yet God. She leans into the tension that God is already present, yet not fully revealed. In her lecture she argues that quantum physics and neuroscience provide metaphors and insights helping us think of divinity as relational, alive, and responsive. (christogenesis.org)
That helps us shift away from a God of compulsive control (ever coercive) toward a God who is evolving, co creating, inviting. In the quantum world, particles interact, entangle, affect one another across space. Isn’t that an image for God and creation dancing together?
Science, Spirit & the Edges of Knowing
Delio doesn’t imagine science as the enemy of faith - rather, she invites them into the same conversation. In her Aspen Chapel talk she suggests that creation is a “relational whole” - not a machine to be mastered, but a mystery to be cherished. (christogenesis.org)
Here’s something that struck me: in a brave moment she says we cannot fall back into simplistic theologies that reject evolution or quantum insight. Instead, the challenge is to weave them in - theology that grows. The shift is from “God above us” to “God with us, through us, beyond us.”
What This Means for Our Spiritual Lives
You may ask: okay, beautiful ideas - but how do I live this? Delio’s vision nudges us toward spiritual practices that mirror relationality:
Contemplative prayer that doesn’t force answers but simply rests in mystery.
Openness to surprise - letting questions and doubts be part of the path, not obstacles.
Listening across disciplines - reading science, theology, philosophy - letting them challenge each other.
Ethical imagination - acting as though the relational cosmos matters: justice, ecology, community.
She sees that our spiritual vocabulary must expand. We need fewer glib certainties and more embodied wonder.
Reflection Points to Carry
In what ways do I carry a fixed image of God - and where might that need to shift?
Where do I resist uncertainty, and how might I lean into it instead?
When I contemplate creation (plants, stars, atoms), how might I allow them to speak of God’s “not yet” presence?
What small act today could lean toward the kind of relational future Ilia describes?
Delio’s The Not Yet God talk is not guaranteed comfort. It stirs, unsettles, invites - much like the quantum world itself. But that’s the point. The invitation is to live on the frontier: between known and unknown, between faith and wonder, between who we are and who we are becoming.
FAQs: The Not Yet God by Ilia Delio
What does Ilia Delio mean by “The Not Yet God”?
Ilia Delio uses the phrase The Not Yet God to describe God as dynamic and relational, not a fixed figure on a distant throne. God is both present in creation and still unfolding in new ways as the universe evolves. This vision aligns with Teilhard de Chardin’s idea of cosmic becoming, where love and relationship are the deepest forces of reality (Source: Ilia Delio, The Not Yet God).
How does science shape Ilia Delio’s theology?
Rather than seeing science as a rival to spirituality, Delio sees it as a partner. Quantum physics, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology provide metaphors and frameworks for understanding God as interconnected, emergent, and relational. For example, quantum entanglement suggests a universe where everything affects everything else, echoing spiritual interdependence (Source: Christogenesis Institute).
Why is relationality central to Delio’s vision of God?
Delio argues that reality itself is relational - from atoms binding in patterns to ecosystems thriving in interdependence. For her, God is not a distant overseer but the love that holds and energises these relationships. This perspective mirrors contemporary psychology showing that strong relational bonds improve wellbeing and resilience (Source: American Psychological Association, 2020).
How can “The Not Yet God” idea influence daily spiritual practice?
Embracing the “not yet” invites seekers to adopt contemplative prayer, open curiosity, and a willingness to live with mystery. Instead of clinging to rigid doctrines, one practices presence, listening, and ethical imagination. Small daily actions - from environmental care to compassionate listening - become ways of embodying relational spirituality (Source: A St Lucia Spirituality perspective).
Why does Ilia Delio connect theology with evolution?
Delio believes that theology must grow alongside human understanding. Evolution shows us a world in process, and she suggests faith must reflect that same dynamism. Seeing God as evolving with creation gives people hope that love and meaning are not static relics but active forces shaping the future (Source: Ilia Delio, The Not Yet God).
At St Lucia Spirituality we believe the journey is richer when it’s shared. If you’re seeking a place to explore questions, practice mindfulness, or simply belong to an inclusive spiritual community, we invite you to join us. From online discussion groups and meditation gatherings to our growing library of resources, there’s space here for every seeker. Step into the conversation, connect with others, and discover how community can nurture your spiritual growth.
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