1. Theological Category and Placement
Category: Philosophical Theology
Process Theology is classified within Philosophical Theology because it employs philosophical methods—particularly those derived from process philosophy—to interpret and articulate theological doctrines. It emphasises God’s relationality, dynamism, and interaction with creation, challenging classical metaphysical assumptions about divine immutability and sovereignty. This philosophical engagement with theological topics firmly places Process Theology within the domain of Philosophical Theology (Cobb, 1976).
2. Introduction
Process Theology arose in the 20th century as a creative theological system integrating Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy with Christian doctrine. It portrays God not as an unchanging, distant being but as a relational and evolving presence who interacts dynamically with the world. It offers a constructive response to the problem of evil and the nature of divine power, emphasising creativity, change, and co-creation (Whitehead, 1929; Cobb, 1976).
3. Historical Development
The philosophical roots trace back to Whitehead’s Process and Reality (1929), which reimagined reality as a process of becoming rather than static being. Early theologians such as Charles Hartshorne and John B. Cobb Jr. adapted this philosophy to Christian theology in the mid-20th century, producing a theology that rejects classical attributes such as divine impassibility.
Process Theology gained attention as a radical alternative in the postmodern theological landscape, influencing liberal theology, environmental ethics, and interreligious dialogue (Cobb, 1976).
4. Core Doctrines and Theological Emphases
- Relational God: God’s being is relational and interdependent with creation.
- Dipolarity of God: God possesses both a changing (experiential) and an unchanging (primordial) nature.
- Panentheism: God is in everything and transcends everything simultaneously.
- God’s Persuasive Power: God influences but does not coerce creation.
- Process and Change: Reality is fundamentally dynamic; God participates in creation’s ongoing process.
- Problem of Evil: God suffers with creation and works to bring good out of evil.
5. Scriptural and Theological Foundations
Process Theology reinterprets traditional biblical themes through a process philosophical lens, emphasising God’s immanence and relationality found in texts such as Psalm 139 and the incarnation narratives. It challenges classical theism’s static notions of divine attributes in favour of a dynamic understanding consistent with God’s revealed activity (Whitehead, 1929).
6. Influence and Impact
Though considered a minority position within Christian theology, Process Theology has significantly influenced liberal and ecumenical theological discourse. It has contributed to ecological theology, interfaith dialogue, and pastoral approaches sensitive to suffering. Critics argue it compromises divine omnipotence and transcendence, but proponents maintain it offers a compelling account of God’s presence in a changing world (Cobb, 1976).
7. Representative Theologians and Key Works
- Alfred North Whitehead – Process and Reality (1929) (philosophical foundation)
- Charles Hartshorne – Pioneer of process philosophical theology
- John B. Cobb Jr. – Process Theology: An Introductory Exposition (1976)
- David Ray Griffin – Contemporary process theologian and philosopher
8. Conclusion
Process Theology offers a philosophically rich and theologically innovative framework that reimagines God’s nature and activity in dynamic relation with creation. Its relational emphasis and creative process account contribute uniquely to contemporary theological reflection on divine power and suffering.
9. References
- Cobb, J. B. Jr. (1976). Process Theology: An Introductory Exposition. Westminster John Knox Press.
- Griffin, D. R. (2001). Reenchantment without Supernaturalism: A Process Philosophy of Religion. Cornell University Press.
- Hartshorne, C. (1967). The Divine Relativity. University of Notre Dame Press.
- Whitehead, A. N. (1929). Process and Reality. Macmillan.