26: Process Theology

1. Theological Category and Placement

Category: Philosophical Theology

Process Theology is situated within Philosophical Theology as it applies process philosophy—particularly the metaphysical ideas of Alfred North Whitehead—to Christian theological concepts. It reinterprets divine attributes emphasizing God’s relationality, dynamism, and co-creativity with creation. Process Theology challenges classical notions of immutability and omnipotence, presenting a God who experiences temporal processes and influences the world persuasively rather than coercively (Cobb, 1976).

2. Introduction

Emerging in the early to mid-20th century, Process Theology integrates Whitehead’s process metaphysics with Christian doctrine to articulate a vision of God as dynamically engaged in the unfolding of reality. This theology emphasizes that God is affected by temporal events, works persuasively through love and creativity, and suffers alongside creation. It offers a novel approach to the problem of evil and divine providence, proposing a relational understanding of God (Whitehead, 1929; Cobb, 1976).

3. Historical Development

Alfred North Whitehead’s Process and Reality (1929) laid the philosophical groundwork for Process Theology. Early theologians such as Charles Hartshorne and John B. Cobb Jr. developed this philosophy within a Christian theological framework. The movement grew as a response to classical theism’s perceived limitations, particularly regarding divine impassibility and the problem of evil. Process Theology became influential in liberal and ecological theological circles and remains a significant alternative paradigm (Cobb, 1976).

4. Core Doctrines and Theological Emphases

  • Relational God: God is in dynamic relationship with creation, not distant or immutable.
  • Dipolarity of God: God has both a primordial (unchanging) and consequent (changing) nature.
  • Panentheism: God contains the world but also transcends it.
  • Persuasive Power: God influences creation through love and persuasion, not coercion.
  • Co-Creation: God and creation are mutually interrelated and evolving together.
  • Theodicy: God suffers with creation and works to bring good from evil.

5. Scriptural and Theological Foundations

Process Theology interprets biblical themes such as God’s immanence and the suffering of Christ through a process philosophical lens. It re-examines texts describing God’s engagement with humanity and the world, emphasizing the relational and responsive aspects of divine action (Whitehead, 1929).

6. Influence and Impact

While a minority position within Christian theology, Process Theology has influenced ecological theology, interfaith dialogue, and contemporary discussions on divine action and suffering. It challenges classical assumptions and offers pastoral resources for understanding God’s empathy with human suffering. Critics argue it compromises divine omnipotence, but it remains a vital voice in philosophical theological discourse (Cobb, 1976).

7. Representative Theologians and Key Works

  • Alfred North Whitehead – Process and Reality (1929)
  • Charles Hartshorne – Developed process metaphysical theology
  • John B. Cobb Jr. – Process Theology: An Introductory Exposition (1976)
  • David Ray Griffin – Contemporary process theologian and philosopher

8. Conclusion

Process Theology presents a dynamic and relational conception of God that contrasts with classical theism. Its innovative metaphysics and pastoral sensitivity continue to contribute to philosophical and theological discussions on divine nature and the problem of evil.

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.
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