Replies

Wonderful!

I’m looking forward to these resources.

I am certainly no expert here but I think part of the answer to your question Scott may lie in the way sentient being are viewed in Hinduism (and also Buddhism and Jainism) as having the atman, or core self, that continues into numerous manifestations of being through reincarnation. So, since the core self remains, lessons from the past are internalized and carried into the next existence.

I personally agree with this as well and yet I also have had to ask myself the difference between Creativity and Divine Love, basically the age-old chicken and egg question. Does creativity spark love or is love the the driving force behind creativity? Some might even argue that they are, essentially, the same force with different names.

If we are to view God as a force of love, with love being the most core aspect of God’s nature, then it stands to reason that creativity along with all other aspects of God flow from that love. The desire for a free universe would also stem from this love.

Where I (again, personally) diverge is the understanding that, “God must limit God’s own power.” This indicates a choice that I do not believe God is capable of making. If God were to not limit God’s own power God would be acting against God’s own nature and therefor would stop being God in the same way that God is.

Also, I see this having an effect on the concept of Humanity being co-creators with God. If God “chooses” self limitation then the idea that we are co-creators in just a smoke and mirrors issue – either we are needed to continue the process of love, creativity, and creation or not. If we are not needed, this puts us right back to a more traditional Christian worldview of God being omnipotent – one that says that an all-powerful God has the power to even limit the self. This does not seem compatible with the idea of limitless love.

Just my two cents.

Michael,
I recently preached a sermon (and just to say, my preaching style is non-authoritative, offering much food for thought) to my small, very diverse congregation that basically said that I believed that if “sin” was “missing the mark” then firstly, it would be a “sin” for God to be anything other than what God is – an always loving, creative energy that works in cooperation with the world. Secondly, following the same train of thought humanity is lured to the same and therefore any LGBTQ+ person would actually be “sinning” to try and deny/change their orientation.

Jason, thank you for posting this article. I look forward to reading it.
It is indeed interesting that God’s work is different in intensity in Jesus. It also makes me wonder if Jesus’ response to that work was also different in intensity.

I currently use the Interpreter’s Study Bible with Apocrypha (NRSV) as my “go-to” but I agree that a Process Study Bible would change that!

I really like your Platinum Rule Scott!
Of course, then you run into people who don’t know how they want to be treated or don’t know that they can be treated in ways different from what they’ve always known.

Maybe that’s the time to pull out the Diamond Rule – “Treat other like The Divine treats them.” 😉

I just came to the discussion forums to ask this very request. Glad to know I’m not the only one!

Michael,
My go-to for Liberation Theology is most anything by Matthew Fox.

I’m currently teaching his book, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth in the Adult Ed. class I moderate at my church and one of the things I like to remind people of is that not all Liberation Theology is Process centered but that they hold hands while they walk quite often.

Charles, those are two metaphors I fall back on quite frequently as well.

I also like to use God as the artist. I feel that this expresses both the creative side of God as well as the giving side. And in today’s age of climate crisis it speaks to the need for humanity to preserve God’s “Art”. As a amateur artist myself, I can relate to giving friends and family something I’ve painted and knowing that I have poured myself into the production of the art piece but that the minute I gift it I am leaving it in the hands of another to care for it and love it.

Charles,

Nice to “see” you again!

I had to chuckle reading your post here. I guess I’m working backwards since all the thinkers/theologians you mentioned are what I have read and studied. Whitehead, on the other hand, I had really not encountered much until our class last month.

Hi Jeanyne,
What do you prefer to be called; Professor Slettom, Dr. Slettom, something else?

It’s nice to know we’re connected by a common river. Though I’m not quite as close as you are, I’m only a short drive from the drought-stricken portion of the Mississippi in southwest Mississippi. Though I’m originally from southern California where drought has been a part of my life since I was a young child and therefore I’ve grown up with a deep empathy for our planet.

Process Theology gives me hope too, in many areas. I’m looking forward to learning from you!

Hi Everyone!

I’m working on my project and am looking for a slide show or short video that speaks to the 4th hope of the Process Movement (Holistic Thinking). I’m considering using the Beauty & Process Theology slide show in the Educator’s Toolbox but am wondering if anyone has other suggestions.

Thanks in advance,
Jennifer

Thank you Kevin!

Thank you Kevin!