Theme: Responding to a Fractured World: Re-think, Re-act, Re-create

Topic: Is There a Process Theology of Food? Considering our Fractured World and How to Respond

Presenter(s): Robert McDonald

Despite claims to the contrary, we find ourselves in the midst of an ecological crisis involving and/or caused by many aspects of modern Western civilization. One such area is the industrial agricultural complex, also called “agri-business,” where the pursuit of profit supersedes—and denigrates—the pursuit of the common good. From a religious perspective, this is a problematic turn of events. This raises an apropos question: our various traditions of belief or unbelief, specifically process thought, have anything to say on the matter of the (a-)theology of food?

While the “theology of food” may seem to be a relatively new area of theological concern, this is not the case, though it may be anachronistic to call it such prior to the early 2000’s. Since there is a history of theological consideration regarding food within at least the broad Christian tradition, and because much can be gleaned from dialogue with other traditions, it is important to consider what process thought may have to offer concerning several related issues: health, finances, sustainability, Creation, the eschaton, the Eucharist, and many more. To wit, the thought of early process thinkers like Whitehead and Teilhard, as well as those who have followed them, has much to teach us regarding a possible process theology of food.

About the Presenter(s)

Robert McDonald is a current PhD candidate in Religion with the Claremont School of Theology where he began his doctoral work in Process Studies in 2017. He is currently working to complete his dissertation under the direction and mentorship of Philip Clayton, PhD, the theme of which is a comparative religious approach toward industrialized animal agriculture; specifically, his work seeks to address the issues, for both human and more-than-human communities, presented by what are referred to as “CAFOs.” His own religious perspective within this work is Roman Catholicism, about which he argues that the Church should move toward a minimally plant-based diet.

No longer in course work, Robert lives in Richmond, VA with his wife of nearly three years, Meg, and their two cats, Toshi and Clementine. When not spending time with his family or engaging in research and writing, Robert either plays or runs TTRPGs (“tabletop role playing games”) as an additional creative outlet. He is also an avid fan of various genres of fiction by the likes of Asimov, Tolkien, and Vonnegut, to name a few. He will also watch TV on occasion, especially enjoying the BBC show “Father Brown.”.

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