Replies

Thanks Thom,

Had to laugh out loud… my experience in Sunday School was similar in that a process notion of God was definitely not on the table. 🙂

Hi Allen,

Whew… big questions right off the bat. I don’t know enough to be able to answer any of them, but they feel important.

Let me throw in one more term that could be in play that you hadn’t (I don’t think) mentioned in your beautiful post. Thich Nhat Hanh’s concept of “Interbeing” which is very much related to interconnectedness, etc. https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/blog/insight-of-interbeing/

Being a San Francisco Bay Area resident, you might expect that I would fall on the liberal side of the political spectrum and mostly you’d be right. Recognizing that this is more of a stereotype than a actual fact attributable to all conservatives or liberals for that matter… I think most that aren’t coming at it from a process/impermanence mindset don’t want change at all… conservatives tend to want things to stay the same as they were (in those good old days) and liberals want to change things primarily to bring about a new world order, more utopian that hopefully lasts (doesn’t change).

Unfortunately… change happens whether we want it or not. It isn’t good or bad it just is.

The above is very much a personal opinion/view and not necessarily factual.

It’s already getting deep and I love it. Great question/reflection.

I wonder also what experience means when there really is nothing substantial/permanent at all (if that’s even true). One of those ultimate questions “who/what is experiencing the experiencing”

Hi Chris,

I enjoyed the Tree metaphor a lot, but found myself struggling with what felt like an inference that process thought (roots) began with Whitehead. Of course, process type thinking goes way back even if what we now know/think of as “Process Thought” is connected rightfully and strongly with ANW.

Heraclitus was onto process. I’d argue that Buddhism and impermanent/anatta is related to/if not process thought.

Hi Kevin,

As someone very Buddhist-influenced, I find myself agreeing with Kevin in his response. Panentheism seems almost necessary for process theology but not necessarily for process “thinking/thought” as a broader subject. Having identified as “Buddhist” in the past, I do think that Panentheism can be affirmed as a Buddhist if we’re not being very literal about how “God” is defined.

Great question

Thanks for the welcome and the four points you ask/bring to us….

Hi John,

Are you still in the Bay Area… or have you moved on/elsewhere. If you’re in the Bay Area, especially the Peninsula would love to hear if you know if any churches that have process-oriented ministers/clergy.

Looking forward to being part of the group with you.

All the best,

Lynndal

Hi Allen,

Loved your description/definition of God also. Wish I’d had that notion as a possibility when I was a child going to a very fundamental/literalist church that would not at all have agreed with that definition. For me, it’s a wonderful, hopeful, meaningful possibility.

All the best,

Lynndal

Hi Brian,

You’re the definition of a life-long learner. Love it. Hope to be doing the same when I hit 82 as well.

All the best,

Lynndal

Hi Ryan,

Wish I had had the experiences you’ve had with open/relational theologians ministers earlier on in my life. Would still love to find a minister who comes from a process perspective in my area… It might draw me back to being a church goer. 🙂

Looking forward to learning more with you.

Lynndal

Hi Thom,

Jesus, Jazz and Buddhism was bookmarked as a favorite in my browser for the longest. Looking forward to putting pieces together with you over the next few weeks.

All the best,

Lynndal

Hi Thomas,

Prior to finding process thought/theology, The Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) was the closest I could come to a Christianity I felt comfortable participating in. I look forward to being in group with you.

Hi Hayden,

I agree with Thom… wow. I thought I was fairly well read but rattled off a list of names and ideas that I’ve never heard of. Now I have more work to do to check them out. 🙂 Looking forward to learning more.

Hi David,

Love that your from “down under”… Seems like lately, many of the interesting things that I find myself attracted to in psychology have come out of or have big presences in Australia and/or NZ. Look forward to being in group with you.