What is the nature of reality?
Reality is deeply connected to the idea that everything comes from God and is ultimately sustained by Him. So, in this view, reality isn’t just what we see and touch but also includes the spiritual dimension—God, Heaven, angels, souls, and even a moral order, all of which are considered just as real as the physical world.
Christians generally believe that the physical universe was created by God and reflects His design, purpose, and goodness. Nature, people, and everything in the universe reveal aspects of God’s character and power, so there’s an idea of “general revelation,” where the natural world is seen as evidence of God’s reality. But this physical world isn’t all there is. Reality includes the unseen, spiritual world that is sometimes beyond human understanding but is considered just as fundamental.
The Bible often speaks about “seeing” in a spiritual sense, meaning that real understanding involves more than just physical sight. For instance, faith is seen as a way to “see” spiritual truths that aren’t always visible, like God’s presence or the promises of eternal life. Hebrews 11:1 even defines faith as the “assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” In this way, reality has layers—a visible, material layer and an invisible, spiritual layer, with both pointing back to God.
Christianity also introduces the concept of moral and relational reality: the belief that our actions have real consequences, that relationships matter, and that people are more than just physical beings. Humans are considered uniquely created in God’s image, with souls that make them capable of relating to God and others in ways that matter deeply.
Finally, Christians view ultimate reality as centered on Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). To many Christians, this means that understanding Jesus is key to understanding the true nature of reality. Reality, from this perspective, is fundamentally relational—about being in relationship with God, others, and creation itself. This view of reality isn’t just about what exists but about purpose, relationship, and eternity.