Final answer:
Eternality and timelessness are deeply interconnected concepts, often suggesting an existence outside of temporal constraints.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you have posed about eternality and timelessness involves deep philosophical and theological concepts. The idea that an actual infinite amount of time can never pass is a philosophical stance suggesting that time may be finite or that an infinite progression of events cannot be completed. The connection between eternality and timelessness raises the question of whether eternal entities or realms exist outside the bounds of time as we understand it. Philosophically, an eternal realm might be considered timeless, but perspectives like Timothy Pawl's suggest the presence of a temporal order within eternity. Science, including relativity and quantum gravity, adds complexity to the nature of time, influencing these discussions.
In philosophical and theological discussions, one perspective is that if something is eternal, it would have to be timeless, since the passage of an infinite amount of time is considered impossible. This means that eternality could entail an existence in a state of timeless now or a-temporality. For example, the notion of heaven being outside of time suggests that it exists in a state where change does not occur as it does within temporal frameworks, and this leads to the idea of an 'eternal now' or timeless existence.
However, Timothy Pawl's discussion in the PBS series 'Closer to the Truth' proposes that even within eternity, there must be a kind of sequence or movement from potentiality to actuality, suggesting that there is some form of time or temporal order within eternity. This raises further questions about the nature of consciousness and change in relation to an eternal deity.
Another layer of complexity is added by theories in physics, such as Einstein's general theory of relativity and quantum gravity, which have implications for the nature of time and suggest that at certain scales or under specific conditions, time may behave in ways that are very different from our everyday experiences. These scientific theories offer additional perspectives that can inform philosophical debates about time and eternity.