What Is Process Theology?

104 176

    The Basics

    • Process Theology (PT) represents a school of theology rooted in modern rational thought that rejects classical notions of God, the relationship between the human and the divine and Jesus. The school stresses the importance of understanding God and the relationships between God and all things over strict adherence to the Bible, which constitutes a fallible text created by men. The term "Process Theology" derives from the belief that religion, and the works of God, constitutes an ever-evolving and constantly occurring process, rather than a single period of creation that occurred many years ago.

    Historical Circumstances

    • Historical circumstances gave rise to the philosophical and theological ideas presented by Process Theology. Scientific advancements of the modern world incited skepticism regarding classical notions and interpretations of Christianity and the Christian God. Furthermore, historical developments cast doubt on the authenticity of the Bible as the world of God and literal or absolute interpretations of Biblical or other religious historical events. Intellectual developments such as feminism, existentialism, Marxism and modern psychology cast doubt on traditional religious modes of thought and conception, further precipitating the need for a radical revision of Christian theological belief.

    God in Process Theology

    • Process Theology holds that God constitutes a form of physical, metaphysical and spiritual energy involved in a constant process of creation and evolution. Some theologians interpret this notion of energy as love, while other vaguely describe God as simply "energy." All things come into being through bursts of energy, which in PT constitutes creation. Thus God is constantly involved in all matters of creation and existence. Theologian Gary F. Zeolla argues that PT promotes pantheism, or a school of though in which the universe constitutes a part of God but God is ultimately larger than the universe. As energy, God shares the same power source as finite beings, despite being infinite.

    Additional Information

    • Process Theology rejects notions of God's omniprescience and the idea that everything happening within the universe happens according to the plan of God as mapped out in unchangeable and ancient code. Rather, PT posits that all creation and events that happen in the universe happen as they happen, in a constant and constantly evolving present, and that God partakes in creation in the moment of creation, and neither before nor after. Thus God expresses involvement in all temporal processes.

      PT also humanizes Jesus, considering him simply a man no different than any other person of the temporal human realm. This line of thinking rejects notions of Jesus' "otherness" or any other supernatural qualities some purport he possessed and casts him as a man of exemplary conviction and wisdom but nothing more.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

"Society & Culture & Entertainment" MOST POPULAR

The History of Phonetics

Who Discovered Emeralds?

What Are the Ozarks?

What Is Process Theology?

Early Human Timelines