What is Process Theology?

The question was asked: What is Process Theology? That is an important question, one that I'll be exploring as I push through Philip Clayton's Adventures in the Spirit.

To give a quick overview, Process Theology is a theological program that is rooted in the thought of Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne. It's more recent exemplars have been John B. Cobb, Clark Williamson, David Griffin, among others. I'll note that Williamson and Griffin are both Disciples of Christ theologians. It is a very philosophically rooted theology, which assumes that God and creation are still in process. It is a liberal revision of theology, one that seeks to make the Christian faith more coherent to the modern age. Here is a definition of Process Thought, the foundation upon which Process Theology is built.

Process metaphysics, in general, seeks to elucidate the developmental nature of reality, emphasizing becoming rather than static existence or being. It also stresses the inter-relatedness of all entities. Process describes reality as ultimately made up of experiential events rather than enduring inert substances.

The particular character of every event, and consequently the world, is the result of a selective process where the relevant past is creatively brought together to become that new event. Reality is conceived as a process of creative advance in which many past events are integrated in the events of the present, and in turn are taken up by future events. The universe proceeds as "the many become one, and are increased by one" in a sequence of integrations at every level and moment of existence. Process thought thus replaces the traditional Western "substance metaphysic" with an "event metaphysic."

Terms that further characterize process thought are inter-relatedness, unity-in-diversity, non-dualism, panentheism, mutual transformation, person-in-community, and panexperientialism.

Concepts to watch for are panentheism and dipolar theism, among others. I will say that while I find aspects of Process Theology attractive, I've also found it difficult to understand and use theologically. It is future oriented and it assumes that God is active, which I like, but I find it rather too philosophical. That might be my own issue, of course.

Here is a link to the Center for Process Studies -- for more information.